UK’s biggest green hydrogen plant planned by Scottish Power

Plans to develop the UK’s largest renewable-powered green hydrogen plant on the outskirts of Glasgow have been submitted by Scottish Power.

Hydrogen is made by using an electrolysis plant, which splits water back into its component parts of hydrogen and oxygen, allowing the hydrogen to then be stored and transported for numerous energy applications.  In order for that hydrogen to be classed as ‘green’, the electrolysis plant must be powered entirely by renewable energy.  Scottish Energy’s 20mW plant will be powered by a combination of wind, solar and battery.  According to the energy company the plant could be supplying the commercial market as soon as 2022.

Scottish Energy are part of the Green Hydrogen for Scotland partnership with BOC and ITM Power, under which the clean energy planning application was submitted.

The site, located near the Whitelee Windfarm, would produce enough hydrogen to power over 550 buses travelling between Glasgow and Edinburgh and back each day.

“The site has played a vital role in helping the UK to decarbonise and we look forward to delivering another vital form of zero carbon energy generation at the site to help Glasgow and Scotland achieve their net-zero goals.” said Scottish Power hydrogen director Barry Carruthers.

The proposed Hydrogen plant could produce eight tonnes of green hydrogen per day, which in turn could power over 500 buses travelling between Glasgow and Edinburgh, and back again.

BOC will operate and engineer the site, Scottish Power will supply the wind and solar energy.

Scottish Power announced in 2019 a total investment in clean energy projects of £6bn, to be deployed by 2022.

The company expects a decision on the clean development application in the autumn.  It has also proposed building a a 50mW battery energy storage facility and a 40mW solar farm as part of the scheme to power part of the electrolyser plant.

Glasgow City Council announced its aspiration to be fully decarbonised by 2030, which would make it the first net-zero city in the UK.  COP26, the UN Climate Conference is due to be held there in November 2021 but the pandemic means plans are still up in the air as to whether it can take place or has to go virtual.

COP26, the UN Climate Conference is due to be held there in November 2021 but the pandemic means plans are still up in the air as to whether it can take place or has to go virtual.

The Scottish Power scheme is yet another green hydrogen scheme to be launched in the UK despite the government not having released a Hydrogen strategy yet.

Meanwhile at Teesside BP plan to develop the UK’s largest ‘blue hydrogen’ production plant. Blue hydrogen is made when converting natural gas into hydrogen and CO2 and will involve ‘carbon capturing’ two million tonnes of resulting CO2 per year.