Posted on May 27, 2021
Plans for green hydrogen at a Scottish port are firming up following a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The Port of Cromarty Firth in the Scottish Highlands has signed an MoU with Norwegian firm Gen2 Energy AS to create a commercial pathway to import green hydrogen from Norway into the UK energy market. The partnership will provide a security of supply for the Cromarty Firth’s own plans for a large-scale electrolyser facility.
Chief executive of the port, Bob Buskie, said: “Through this Memorandum of Understanding, we have the potential to not only distribute green hydrogen but develop our own substantial production infrastructure, allowing Scotland to retain its position as a global frontrunner in clean energy.”
Strengthening domestic production
The Firth will become the UK transhipment hub for Gen2 Energy’s hydrogen, produced from Norway’s surplus renewable energy, which will be shipped across the North Sea to the Port. Hydrogen would then be distributed to customers across the UK by road, rail and sea.
This MoU is a major boost in the bid to establish a green hydrogen hub in the Cromarty Firth, adding a new international angle to its aim to produce, store and supply hydrogen to the Highland region, other parts of Scotland, the UK and Europe.
The partnership will guarantee green hydrogen to those who want access to the clean energy by mid-2023, so they have the confidence to make concrete plans to begin switching their infrastructure.
It will also help realise the Scottish Government’s ambition to become a leading hydrogen nation that generates 5GW of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen by 2030 – enough clean energy to power the equivalent of 1.8m homes.
By Rebecca Jeffrey
