Titled A Trading Nation: Realising Scotland’s Hydrogen Potential – A Plan for Exports, the plan has outlined “where the opportunities for growth lie for businesses and investors.”
The Scottish government has stated that the nation could deliver up to 3.3 million tonnes of green hydrogen per year by 2045 – around 90% of Scotland’s total current energy demand.
Under the new strategy, Scotland will aim to boost hydrogen demand, infrastructure and exports while developing its supply chain and international market links. The viability of hydrogen pipelines from Scotland to mainland Europe and Ireland will also be explored.
Acting Energy Secretary Gillian Martin announced the initiative during a visit to Scottish firm Hydrasun. “Hydrogen is one of Scotland’s greatest industrial opportunities since oil and gas was discovered,” she said.
“It provides the government, industry and investors with clarity in the direction we must all move in, with pace, if Scotland is to build a sustainable and successful hydrogen economy – whilst helping to deliver a just transition for our energy sector.
“Although the full economic potential of hydrogen is yet to be realised, Hydrasun is a great example of how Scottish businesses are already leading the way in the hydrogen sector.”
The announcement comes not long after the government scrapped Scotland’s target of reducing greenhouse gases by 75% by 2030, determining that the goal was “out of reach.”
However, the nation has actively accelerated the development of hydrogen-based projects over the past year.
Last September, the Scottish government made £7m ($9.2m) of funding to kick-start local green hydrogen projects with production capacities ranging from 5 to 400MW.
Furthermore, Statera Energy submitted plans to build its 3GW green hydrogen project in Aberdeen last month, dubbed Kintore Hydrogen.
Once constructed, Statera has said it will be the “largest” hydrogen project in Europe, with the first 500MW of operational capacity scheduled to be online by 2028.
