ScottishPower Renewables is collaborating on a project to develop green hydrogen production facilities and refuelling stations near Glasgow, Scotland supported by wind and a new solar farm.
Green Hydrogen for Glasgow is a partnership between ScottishPower Renewables, Linde-owned BOC, and UK electrolyser supplier ITM Power to deliver an “end-to-end” green hydrogen refuelling network.
ITM Power will supply a 10MW electrolyser that will be operated by BOC and located in the vicinity of the 539MW Whitelee wind farm at Eaglesham Moor, south of Glasgow.
It will be supplied with electricity sources that include Whitelee wind farm as well as 35MW of solar capacity that ScottishPower Renewables intends to build at Whitelee.
The project aims to supply green hydrogen to the commercial market within the next two years.
The facility will ensure zero emission fuel is readily available to organisations, such as local authorities and others with fleets of heavy-duty vehicles.
The project also supports the Scottish Government’s decarbonisation targets and Glasgow City Council’s commitment to creating a zero emissions vehicle fleet, using only electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles by the end of 2029.
ScottishPower Renewables chief executive Lindsay McQuade (pictured) said: “While electrification will play a significant role in taking petrol and diesel vehicles off our roads and make an important difference for the planet, it can only go so far, and we’re doing something about that.
“Our revolutionary approach – which really will be a game-changer – fully supports the large scale transformation needed to replace heavy diesel vehicles with cleaner, greener alternatives.
“By working with industry leaders ITM Power and BOC to bring our collective expertise together, we will maximise the potential of this new technology to offer fleet operators and industry a packaged solution that brings all of the pieces of the jigsaw together – production, distribution, supply.
“All they have to do is provide the vehicles. We have a huge opportunity here to bring net zero ever closer for the benefit of everyone and support a better future, quicker – and we will make it happen.”
ITM Power CEO Graham Cooley said it was proud to be collaborating on the project, adding: “This project provides the opportunity to fulfil Scotland’s rich potential for the simultaneous decarbonisation of power and transport fuel.
“Green Hydrogen for Glasgow is an important step forward for the city’s net zero targets and enables Scotland to demonstrate that its most densely populated urban areas can fully utilise its abundant local renewable energy resources to decarbonise its transport system and industry.”
BOC market development manager for clean fuels Mark Griffin said that forward-thinking councils were “putting green hydrogen at the centre of their transport strategies to help achieve their net-zero targets”.
He added: “We already operate Europe’s largest hydrogen production and refuelling site in Aberdeen and are looking forward to working with councils across Scotland to develop more projects in partnership with SPR and ITM Power.”