Engineering outfit Wood is working with gas utility SGN on a project to create a roadmap of cross-sector decarbonisation in the north east and east coast of Scotland.
The roadmap will support SGN’s commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2045.
The North East Network & Industrial Cluster development project will deliver a “comprehensive and practical” roadmap that enables existing and future gas networks to help meet national net-zero 2045 decarbonisation targets.
The roadmap will also support SGN’s “ultimate goal” of providing 100% green hydrogen from renewable sources.
The feasibility of this will be investigated alongside a carbon collection network to sequester carbon dioxide from difficult to decarbonise sectors and possible negative emissions.
The multi-disciplinary team from across Wood’s global business, including renewables, carbon capture, hydrogen production and pipeline distribution, will investigate re-purposing and further developing SGN’s existing distribution gas networks on the east coast and central belt of Scotland as a viable alternative to natural gas, using hydrogen and carbon capture and storage (CCS).
Wood technical consulting solutions business CEO Joe Sczurko said: “We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with SGN on the North East Network & Industrial Cluster development.
“This study has the potential to play a significant role in decarbonising heavy industry in the region, and the work exemplifies our focus and breadth of capability to drive the energy transition forward.
“Innovative solutions today will help SGN provide reliable and clean energy for the future, as well as make measurable progress toward Scotland’s goal to become net-zero by 2045.
“The north east of Scotland has the potential to become a major hydrogen hub thanks to its existing infrastructure and the clustering of major carbon emitters, as well as the proximity to storage capacity for sequestered carbon dioxide and onshore and offshore renewable energy resources.”
SGN energy futures director Angus McIntosh said: “The North East Network & Industrial Cluster is an exciting study and an important step in the journey towards meeting our net zero targets.
“Cutting emissions from heavy industry is one of the biggest challenges that we face in the pathway to decarbonisation, but the deployment of 100% hydrogen generated by renewable sources, supported by carbon capture and storage, presents a credible solution.
“With its abundant renewables resource and the early promise shown by carbon capture and storage projects, Scotland’s east coast is in a strong position to seize this opportunity and become a leader in our future hydrogen economy. We look forward to working with Wood to deliver that significant prize.”
The scope of work will include investigating the potential for other cross-sectoral uses for hydrogen such as road freight, rail, and maritime transport and, in the long term, aviation.
The study will also assess the feasibility of the development of an offshore hydrogen supergrid linking offshore hydrogen production and potential storage locations with onshore industrial facilities in the UK, Germany, Netherlands, and Belgium.