By Charlene Kelly

PLANNING PERMISSION is being sought from Fife Council for a £3 million world-leading renewable energy development.

If given the go-ahead, work on the Hydrogen Office Demonstration Centre will begin later this year at a site near Thomson House at Methil Docks, as part of the Fife Energy Park.

The project has the potential to create 1350 jobs and is being jointly funded by Scottish Enterprise Fife, Alsherra Investments and European Regional Development Fund and will work towards meeting the Scottish Executive’s targets to have 18% of Scotland’s electricity generated by renewables by 2010, rising to 40% by 2020.

It is anticipated that the development will result in considerable benefits for Scotland’s economy over the next 25 years, with the potential to generate up to £81 million in gross value add (GVA) through new businesses starting up to further develop, manufacture, assemble, install and maintain hydrogen and renewable energy-powered office facilities.

Powered by an innovative renewable energy and hydrogen fuel cell solution, the centre aims to illustrate the role that energy efficiency, renewables and hydrogen can play in reducing the impact of climate change and reducing future dependence on imported energy. It will set a world-class example by integrating well proven renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and geothermal with hydrogen and fuel cell energy storage technologies.

Willie Johnston, director of strategic projects at Scottish Enterprise Fife, said, “The energy centre is one of a number of potential projects earmarked for the emerging energy hub at Methil and we are confident that, if given the green light, the project will deliver significant economic benefit not only for Fife, but for Scotland as a whole.”

The planning application follows a series of project briefing sessions with local residents, councillors and Central Fife MSP, Tricia Marwick. A separate planning application for a controversial 80-metre wind turbine which will tie in with the energy centre plan is expected to be submitted at a later date.

A Scottish Enterprise Fife spokeswoman said, “We are aware that there is some concern among local residents regarding the wind turbine with regard to the siting of it and noise levels and we are working hard to keep them informed by way of various public engagement events.

“We are still working through the particulars for the wind turbine aspect of this project but local people can rest assured that once we have definitive answers we will let them know.”