GreenPower has been granted planning permission to develop its Argyll Hydrogen Hub, a production and distribution centre set for the West coast of Scotland.
The Scottish-based green energy company aims to support the decarbonisation of the Glenshellach Industrial Estate by introducing a steady stream of green hydrogen into the region. Heavy industry, in particular, has been touted as an early off-taker of the clean energy carrier, and thus, the hub will promote hydrogen technologies in this sector.
Green hydrogen will be produced at the hub via a connection to the 46MW Carraig Gheal wind farm near Oban to power an electrolyser. The hydrogen will then help the transition from fossil fuels to zero-carbon fuels for ferries, HGVs, buses, trains, industrial processes, and regional heating.
It is hoped that the production facility will begin producing hydrogen by the end of 2025.
GreenPower stated it is also considering hydrogen production at other energy generation sites, including the proposed Barachander Wind Farm.
Paul Minto, director of green hydrogen at GreenPower, stated that the project would “put Oban and the region on the UK green hydrogen map” before outlining the importance of hydrogen in achieving net zero.
“Green hydrogen is an important zero-carbon fuel that can help meet climate obligations while delivering sustainable fuel for a wide range of purposes. In Argyll there are several sectors currently dependent on fossil fuels where fuel-switching could radically reduce carbon emissions, and where jobs can be created through local production and use of green hydrogen,” Minto said.
Rob Forrest, GreenPower CEO, added: “We can see a future where all heavy road transport and shipping is powered by green hydrogen, and where any industry using heating oils or gas can switch fuels to run on environmentally friendly green hydrogen.”
Scotland’s potential in supporting the UK and EU green hydrogen goals
The UK government has been cautious in its approach to hydrogen. Despite major backing, its initial Hydrogen Strategy set a goal of just 5GW of low-carbon hydrogen production by 2030 – significantly lower than countries such as the US, Germany and Australia. A negative response from the industry prompted this figure to be increased to 10GW, with 5GW to come from green hydrogen.
Scotland, in particular, has seen significant growth in its hydrogen sector, owing to its prominent renewable generation resources via wind. This potential has seen the University of Aberdeen exploring opportunities to create the Hydrogen Backbone Link, a project to connect Scotland directly to Germany via a marine pipeline.
Should this be pursued, the link could allow Scotland to meet up to 10% of Europe’s projected hydrogen import demand by the mid-2030s.
ScottishPower is also looking to support hydrogen’s growth in Scotland and aims to develop green hydrogen solutions to aero-engines using electrolysers backed by 100% renewable power from its UK-based wind farms. This saw an agreement signed with hydrogen aviation company ZeroAvia in early 2024.
