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How Orkney’s airport terminal piloted a green hydrogen trial
10/12/2025
8 min read
Feature
A trial of a combined heat and power (CHP) system powered with locally-generated hydrogen on the Orkney Islands in Scotland was conducted in October by principal contractor EMEC. It was said to be the first time hydrogen has been used to meet both the power and heat demands of a commercial airport in the UK. The trial was the culmination of years of preparation, EMEC told New Energy World Senior Editor Will Dalrymple MEI.
Kirkwall Airport on the Orkney mainland, 10 miles north of Caithness, was originally built during World War II to defend the Scapa Flow Naval Base. Now run by Scottish regional airport group Highlands and Islands Airports, it serves flights from Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness as well as Shetland, Fair Isle and Orkney's North Isles. The airport operates from 7am–8pm daily.
In October 2025, the site carried out a trial of hydrogen combustion engine technology.
Orkney is one of the only places in the UK which generates more power than it consumes, thanks mainly to onshore wind farms and a relatively small population of 22,000. That may soon be supplemented by the 2 GW West of Orkney offshore wind farm, which received planning consent in June.