Scottish government’s £7m for green hydrogen

First Minister Humza Yousaf announces Hydrogen Innovation Scheme to boost development in the production, storage and distribution of renewable hydrogen. 

The investment will support 32 projects including a study into treating water from the River Clyde to produce hydrogen cheaply and a new Hydrogen Innovation Hub at Glasgow Airport used for storage and distribution.

There’s money for an inventive scheme to produce hydrogen by using waste heat generated from wind turbines on the Isle of Lewis. A study also will be conducted into the potential of using tidal energy around Yell in the Shetland Islands to produce the gas. 

An award of £1,129,000 has gone to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (the Western Isles Council), University of The Highlands (UHI) and Harris-based clean power start-up PlusZero to create a green hydrogen production learning, test and research hub at Creed Park, Stornoway. 

David Macleod, Head of Municipal Services, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar says: ‘This ground-breaking public, private and university collaboration will help deliver the skilled workforce and robust hydrogen technology needed to support the Outer Hebrides ambitions to be Scotland’s leading green hydrogen production hub and play a key role in achieving the Scottish Government’s ambition for delivering 5 gigawatts of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen production by 2030.’ 

In announcing the new package of funding, the First Minister said: ‘We have committed £100m over this parliamentary session to supporting the green hydrogen sector.’ 

‘Part of that funding has been allocated to the Hydrogen Innovation Scheme, which supports feasibility studies, technical demonstrations and testing facilities for new ideas about how to produce, store and distribute hydrogen.’ 

‘I am pleased to be able to confirm today that through this scheme, grants worth a total of £7m have been allocated to 32 different projects.’ 

‘The projects cover a wide range of different areas – such as how to produce and store hydrogen on floating windfarms, and how to decarbonise agriculture and forestry work in rural areas. Together, they show the range of possible ways in which hydrogen can be produced, used and stored. They highlight the expertise and innovation that is already such an important part of the sector. And, of course, they demonstrate the scale of the opportunities that hydrogen can create.’ 

In related news, a Scottish windfarm recently announced a £300,000 fund for vulnerable residents.

Photo by American Public Power Association