Scottishpower unveils plans for
Aplanning application to develop the UK’S largest electrolyser has been submitted by Scottishpower.
The 20MW electrolyser, used to extract hydrogen from water, will be the key component of a green hydrogen facility located close to the energy firm’s on-shore windfarm at Whitelee near Glasgow.
The application includes plans for a 40MW solar farm, comprised of some 62,000 solar cells, and a 50MW battery energy storage scheme to help run the electrolyser.
The facility is expected to produce up to eight tonnes of green hydrogen per day – enough to fuel more than 550 bus journeys from Glasgow to Edinburgh and back again, according to Scottishpower.
The company says the submission marks an important step for Green Hydrogen for Scotland, a partnership between Scottishpower, industrial gas firm BOC and hydrogen energy company ITM Power, as it aims to create green hydrogen production facilities with clusters of refuelling stations across Scotland.
The partnership’s first project – Green Hydrogen for Glasgow,
is designed to provide carbonfree transport and clean air for communities across the city as well as helping support industrial hydrogen demand in the region.
Barry Carruthers, Scottishpower’s hydrogen director, says: “It’s fantastic to be making this next important step towards delivering green hydrogen for Glasgow.
“Whitelee 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 to help Scotland achieve its net-zero goals.”
Mark Griffin, hydrogen market development manager at BOC, says: “The scale of this project demonstrates the growing demand for clean hydrogen and we’re delighted to bring our hydrogen mobility and refuelling project expertise to help deliver a groundbreaking facility in Glasgow.”
Graham Cooley, ITM Power’s chief executives, adds: “This is an exciting milestone for green hydrogen and Glasgow, that will see the UK’S largest electrolyser deployment to date being realised in Scotland.”
A decision on the application is expected to be made in autumn.