Oort Energy achieves commercial solar hydrogen production using 250kW demonstrator

Oort Energy has become the “first UK company” to achieve direct solar hydrogen production at a commercial scale.

Following the successful operation of its 250kW demonstrator in Harlaxton, running continuously on solar power for multiple days, the Bristol-based company has set a “new standard in sustainable hydrogen production.”

The hydrogen produced is expected to be 99.9995% purity and despite being off grid, it meets the ISO14687 fuel cell specification.

Last June (2023), Oort closed its oversubscribed £5m ($6.2m) Seed raise led by Energy Revolution Ventures (ERV), which would support the set-up of its electrolyser stack manufacturing facility and the deployment of its first fully compliant demonstrator.

Read more:Oort Energy closes £5m seed funding round for electrolyser manufacturing and deployment scale-up

Using entirely solar energy to produce hydrogen, Oort delivered the off-grid commercial electrolyser stack to Harlaxton Engineering Services Limited last year (2023).

Marcus Bull, the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Oort, claimed the company’s “high efficiency, economically viable systems” will play a “pivotal role in driving the commercial availability of green hydrogen.”

Oort’s CEO and Chief Technical Officer (CTO), Nick Van Dijk explained the company’s established business model. “This is a tremendous milestone, in what Oort Energy can do to accelerate the viability of a sustainable ‘hydrogen economy,’” he said.

“Oort Energy’s lean business model has delivered amazing commercial results more quickly whilst spending less than any other manufacturer in this market.”