The UK government has pledged nearly £10 million of investment in a new green hydrogen production facility in Scotland.
The new facility, part of the UK’s largest wind farm near Glasgow, will use the £9.4 million of government backing to develop a large-scale electrolyser to produce hydrogen from water. The facility will be capable of producing between 2.5 and 4 tons of green hydrogen a day, according to estimates. This is enough to power the equivalent of 225 bus round-trips from Glasgow to Edinburgh every day.
Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Hands said: “This first-of-a-kind hydrogen facility will put Scotland at the forefront of plans to make the UK a world-leading hydrogen economy, bringing green jobs to Glasgow, while also helping to decarbonise local transport – all immediately following the historic COP26 talks.
“Projects like these will be vital as we shift to a green electricity grid, helping us get the full benefit from our world-class renewables, supporting the UK as we work to eliminate the UK’s contribution to climate change.”
This investment will support the environmental ambitions of both Glasgow, which aims to be net-zero by 2030, and the UK at large. The installation and expansion of hydrogen power infrastructure will also lay groundwork for the UK’s plans to develop a larger green hydrogen power network in future.
Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack said: “This tremendous investment at Whitelee Windfarm illustrates how serious the UK government is about supporting projects that will see us achieve net zero by 2050. In the weeks following COP26 in Glasgow, it has never been more important to champion projects like this one, which embraces new hydrogen technology while creating highly-skilled jobs. We can, and will, achieve a greener, cleaner future.”
Barry Carruthers, ScottishPower Hydrogen Director, said: “This blend of renewable electricity generation and green hydrogen production promises to highlight the multiple ways in which society can decarbonise by using these technologies here and now.”
