Hydrogen fuel cells

Energy is one of the 21st century's major issues. The requirement to reduce society's reliance on fossil fuel sources means that the world needs to develop more sustainable and renewable energy sources. A critical component of the solution is the implementation of new disruptive energy technologies such as fuel cells that will totally reshape the energy economy: this is central to John Irvine’s activities.

John Irvine has developed new and improved fuel cell technologies and is providing new energy solutions and concepts in device application. Further, because of his major expertise in developing hydrogen and fuel cell technology, he was asked to be a member of the Hydrogen Energy Group (HEG) of the Scottish Government. The HEG formulated the initial government policy in this area and laid the foundations for current Scottish policy for hydrogen as encompassed by the 2009 Climate Change Bill (Scotland) and the 2009 Renewables Action Plan for Scotland.  

As a result of John Irvine's work the following projects have been created: 

• BIG HIT (Building Innovative Green Hydrogen Island Territories), to further develop the impact of zero-emission hydrogen production. Surf’n’Turf began in 2014, and the first hydrogen was produced in 2017 which was the world’s first hydrogen to be produced using tidal power.
• Aberdeen City Council have implemented Europe’s largest hydrogen-powered fleet of buses, and the world’s largest fully integrated hydrogen project, including building two hydrogen fuelling stations.
• The HySeas project aims to develop the world’s first hydrogen-powered, zero-emission ferry.