Government funding for green hydrogen project near Glasgow

The UK government has awarded £9.4m for a green hydrogen storage project at the country’s largest onshore windfarm near Glasgow.

Located alongside ScottishPower’s Whitelee Windfarm, it will produce and store hydrogen to supply local transport providers with zero-carbon fuel.

The project involves the development of the UK’s largest electrolyser, a system which converts water into hydrogen gas as a way to store energy. The electrolyser, powered by the renewable energy from the Whitelee Windfarm, will create green hydrogen, a zero-carbon gas that is produced via electrolysis (splitting) of water, using renewable power.

Developed by ITM Power and BOC, in conjunction with ScottishPower’s Hydrogen division, the facility will be able to produce enough green hydrogen per day – 2.5 to 4 tonnes – that, once stored, could provide the equivalent of enough zero-carbon fuel for 225 buses travelling to and from Glasgow and Edinburgh each day.

The announcement follows COP26 and supports Glasgow’s ambition to become net zero by 2030.

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.

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.”