ScottishPower has filed a planning application to create a clean energy and hydrogen production hub at its 539MW Whitelee wind farm in Scotland.
The consent paperwork seeks approval for a 20MW electrolyser powered by up to 40MW of solar and 50MW of battery energy storage.
The electrolyser project will be engineered and operated by BOC, using wind and solar power produced by the developer, and incorporate an electrolyser delivered by ITM Power.
Whitelee’s clean gas unit aims to supply hydrogen to the commercial market before 2023.
The project represents a doubling in the planned electrolyser scale capacity and is in response to market demand, said ITM.
ScottishPower expects a decision on the planning application by the end of autumn 2021.
Whitelee is located just outside Glasgow.
ITM chief executive Graham Cooley said: “This is an exciting milestone based on market development for green hydrogen for the city of Glasgow, that will see the UK’s largest electrolyser deployment to date being realised in Scotland.”
Barry Carruthers, ScottishPower’s Hydrogen Director, added: “With all eyes set to be on Glasgow later this year as the city hosts the UN’s 26th climate change conference, COP26, it’s fantastic to be making this next important step towards delivering green hydrogen for Glasgow.
“Whitelee keeps breaking barriers, first the UK’s largest onshore wind farm, and soon to be home to the UK’s largest electrolyser. The site 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 at the site to help Glasgow and Scotland achieve their net zero goals.”