Caldale, Eday

Located on the island of Eday, the buildings and equipment at EMEC's Caldale site form part of a R&D hub for renewable energy innovation. While they may appear unassuming, they support pioneering work exploring how renewable electricity can be generated, stored and integrated into wider energy systems.

This is where electricity generated by tidal energy devices at the Fall of Warness test site comes ashore and connects to the national grid. It serves as a real-world test bed for exploring how renewable energy can be generated, stored and integrated for use in different ways.

The onshore site brings together a range of energy technologies, including hydrogen production facilities and vanadium flow batteries. By integrating renewable generation, energy storage and end-use applications, EMEC can explore how future energy systems might operate.

In 2016, EMEC installed a hydrogen production system, known as an electrolyser, at Caldale. The following year, EMEC achieved a world first by producing hydrogen using electricity generated by tidal energy devices operating at the Fall of Warness. This demonstrated how renewable electricity can be converted into hydrogen to be stored and used when needed.

Since then, EMEC has been involved in a range of hydrogen and e-fuel research projects. Hydrogen produced at the site has supported local demonstration projects exploring how these fuels could be used in heat, power and transport applications.

In 2025, EMEC completed another world-first demonstration by integrating tidal power, vanadium flow battery storage and hydrogen production within a single energy system. By storing electricity and releasing it when required, the batteries helped smooth the cyclical nature of tidal generation, providing a steadier output of power for hydrogen production.

From this small site in Eday, the innovations tested and project learnings are helping shape energy projects around the world.