SSE Renewables and Siemens Gamesa have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore the opportunity to produce and deliver green hydrogen through electrolysis using energy from two onshore wind farms in Scotland and Ireland.
The partnership aims to encompass the full green hydrogen value chain, including construction, supply chain management, customer offtake and storage, end-user requirements, reliability and operation and maintenance.
The two companies said they will also aim to work with green hydrogen customers across a range of industries including transportation, major distilleries and gas network operators.
Under the partnership, SSE Renewables and Siemens Gamesa aim to co-locate hydrogen production facilities at two selected onshore wind farms, one each in Scotland and Ireland to be announced in due course.
SSE Renewables managing director Jim Smith said: “Hydrogen is rapidly becoming an important and exciting component of the strategy to decarbonise power production, heavy industry and transport, among other sectors.
“And the revolutionary production of green hydrogen from wind energy offers wider opportunity for markets such as Scotland and Ireland to further exploit our abundant wind resources.
“That’s why it makes perfect sense for SSE Renewables and Siemens Gamesa to come together to explore how we can use our experience and expertise to harness our fantastic wind resource to bring the green hydrogen revolution to Scotland and Ireland, and so help decarbonise the wider UK and European economies.”
Siemens Gamesa chief executive for service in Northern Europe and the Middle East Paulina Hobbs said: “It took three decades for wind and solar to reach grid parity with fossil fuels, green hydrogen needs to do the same in one decade if we are to reach our 2050 carbon neutral targets.
“Siemens Gamesa is committed to making this happen but it can only be achieved when we work together with companies such as SSE Renewables to help springboard the development and we are very excited to see what this partnership can create.”