Edinburgh’s Heriot-Watt University has launched a new centre for green hydrogen innovation with companies Logan Energy and PlusZero.
The building, which has been named “Hydrogen Works”, will enable the consortium to explore and collaborate on a range of hydrogen-related research and industry projects to help advance the UK hydrogen ecosystem.
This will see a range of technologies explored including clean-power generators, state-of-the-art refuelling infrastructure and cutting-edge energy systems for heavy industry.
As part of Heriot-Watt University’s strategy to engage with businesses, it is reshaping its Riccarton Campus in Edinburgh to house companies and clusters, including Logan Energy and PlusZero.
“Working hand-in-hand with business is at the very heart of what we do at Heriot-Watt University. Hydrogen Works is an excellent example of how co-location on our campuses can drive engagement and accelerate growth in businesses through access to innovation, talent and entrepreneurial minds,” said Professor Gillian Murray, deputy principal for business and enterprise at Heriot-Watt University.
“We look forward to working in partnership with Logan Energy and PlusZero and building a strong business cluster in Scotland around the future opportunities hydrogen brings to our economy.”
Scotland has been touted as a hub for green hydrogen production due to its vast wind resources which saw its government outline a 5GW hydrogen production target. With Scotland already scaling its onshore and offshore wind generation capacity, co-locating electrolysis for green hydrogen production could see the nation’s ecosystem boom.
This has seen an influx of major hydrogen projects in the country. This is showcased in Statera’s recently announced 3GW green hydrogen production project in Aberdeenshire, which intends to harness surplus Scottish wind power to power an electrolyser facility.
The green hydrogen produced by the project is expected to supply Statera’s power generating facilities and the UK’s carbon intensive industrial clusters via existing gas transmission pipelines.
Commenting on the new centre for green hydrogen, Energy Minister, Gillian Martin, said: “Scotland has vast natural resources with which we can become world leaders in renewable hydrogen production and export, and the Scottish Government’s Hydrogen Action Plan reaffirms our clear commitment to helping our hydrogen sector grow and prosper.
“We must work collaboratively and innovatively in order to realise the huge potential of hydrogen and partnership is important to accelerate the development of the technology.”