ScottishPower and Storegga have lent their support to Opportunity Cromarty Firth’s (OCF) bid for Green Freeport status.
Joint developers ScottishPower and Storegga recently announced plans to develop a 50MW green hydrogen plant to be used in heating processes in nearby whisky distilleries.
The green hydrogen developers said Green Freeport status would have the potential to bring forward more than £1bn of investment in a larger-scale plant by up to 10 years and would place the Highlands “firmly at the centre” of future large-scale production of green hydrogen.
This is due to the region’s “enormous growth potential” of offshore wind, which is “critical” to the industry’s development, the partners added.
Andrew Brown, head of hydrogen at Storegga, said: “Green Freeport status for Inverness and the Cromarty Firth could bring forward investment of more than £1bn and help secure the UK’s position as a global leader and leading exporter of this clean fuel alternative.
“We have big ambitions for our planned green hydrogen facility on the Cromarty Firth and we welcome any developments that could help fast-track both the switch to this green fuel at home and grow an export market that will help create a clean energy future for us all.”
Commenting on behalf of OCF, Port of Cromarty Firth chief executive, Bob Buskie, added: “ScottishPower and Storegga are developing a transformational project in our area, which will provide green hydrogen for heating processes in whisky distilleries.
“That development has been designed with future expansion in mind that would bring regional and national energy security, clean fuels and high-quality green careers and supply chain opportunities.
“We are in absolutely no doubt that winning Green Freeport status is key to turning the even larger scale 1GW vision into a reality here at pace.”