Scotland's whisky distillers are to benefit from government
funding towards the development of a green hydrogen hub in Moray.
Scottish Government funding of £3.1 million will support the
construction of a new regional hub in Speyside, bringing
approximately 100 permanent high skilled, high value jobs to the
area.
The phased development by Storegga is expected to produce around
200MW of green hydrogen by 2032 -– the equivalent to the
production of enough hydrogen to heat over 8,000 homes.
Once fully operational the new hub is expected to save
around 190,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. This is the equivalent of
a 35% drop in the Scottish whisky sector's 2018 baseline
emissions or the same as taking around 135,000 cars from roads in
Scotland.
Green hydrogen is made by splitting water into hydrogen and
oxygen using renewable energy, and can be used for fuel for
transportation, commercial and industrial heat or stored to meet
future demand.
The green hydrogen produced in Speyside will provide fuel and
energy for over 40 industrial sites across the region including
whisky distillers and distiller hauliers – supporting the
decarbonation of the sector.
The Scottish Government's funding will be matched by Storegga –
with investment totalling £6.2 million. It complements a total of
almost £7 million from the Scottish Government's Hydrogen
Innovation Scheme, which has supported 31 projects across the
country since 2022.
Acting Energy Secretary said: “This Scottish
Government funding will support the construction of a new hub in
Speyside, creating job opportunities for a hundred people in the
local area.
“The hub will also support decarbonisation of Scotland's iconic
whisky industry, which currently relies on energy intensive
production techniques – by creating clean energy and heat used
for distilling and fuel for transportation.
“There is significant potential for the development of green
hydrogen production in Scotland, due to our capability to
generate so much renewable energy from offshore wind – crucial to
the process of making green hydrogen.
“And as we continue with our transition to net zero, green
hydrogen will play an increasingly important role within industry
as organisations further decarbonise their operations and support
Scotland's transition to net zero.”
Tim Stedman, Storegga CEO said: "Storegga is thrilled to be
leading the development of the green hydrogen hub in Speyside, a
project that marks a crucial step in Scotland's energy
transition.
“We are deeply grateful to the Scottish Government for their
support which is instrumental in bringing this vision to life.
This initiative highlights the importance of government and
industry working together to achieve our shared net-zero goals.
“By harnessing Scotland's rich renewable energy resources, we can
significantly reduce carbon emissions and support the
decarbonisation of Scotland's iconic whisky industry. We are also
committed to engaging with the local community through ongoing
public consultations, ensuring that this project benefits both
the region and its residents. Collaboration like this is
essential to driving sustainable industrial practices and
creating high-quality jobs that will benefit the region for years
to come."
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