The Scottish Government has made £7m ($9.2m) of funding available to kick start local green hydrogen projects with production capacities of 5-400MW.
The funding is expected to cover the development stage costs of selected projects, with support also available for work focused on the hydrogen supply chain and storage solutions.
Organisations will have until September 27 to apply for a maximum of £2m ($2.6m) of match-funding from the scheme, which has been co-developed with Scottish Enterprise, who will facilitate and manage the fund.
Acting Minister for Climate Action, Alasdair Allan, claimed the green hydrogen sector will play a “crucial role” in Scotland’s economy moving toward its Net Zero targets.
“This is due to our capability to generate so much renewable energy which is crucial to the process of making green hydrogen,” he explained.
“This funding – which will help support the development of green hydrogen projects and hydrogen hubs across the country, will, in time, help unlock opportunities in hydrogen for use and export and to power the clean energy-intensive industries of the future.”
Scottish Enterprise Director of Energy Transition, Suzanne Sosna, added, “This new fund will help new green hydrogen projects get off the ground, something that is critical if we are to build the new hydrogen economy as we aim to in Scotland.
“Renewable energy, including green hydrogen, has the potential to transform Scotland’s economy and Scottish Enterprise is fully committed to helping hydrogen production storage and offtake businesses as part of that.”
A Scottish Government-commissioned report released in May claimed that Scotland could meet 100% of Germany’s hydrogen import demand.
Read more: Scotland could satisfy 100% of Germany’s hydrogen import demands, report claims
The Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) and Cruh21 report found that the nation could meet anywhere between 22% and 100% of Germany’s hydrogen import volumes by 2045.
In April, the Scottish Government scrapped its key target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030.
Read more:Scotland abandons ‘out of reach’ 2030 emissions goal
The Net Zero Minister, Mairi McAllan told the Scottish Parliament that the 2030 target was “out of reach,” but stressed the country’s 2045 Net Zero goal will remain.
1895 Podcast
Subscribe to the 1895 Podcast from gasworld Global Insights (GWGI) and listen to the latest analysis, insights and viewpoints on the biggest talking points in gases and energy each week.
The 1895 Podcast is a new addition to GWGI, aiming to bring insights, news, and interviews for the industrial gases and energy sectors in a laid-back and conversational manner. The podcast aims to discuss the key inflection points of the industry’s future – on a regional, technological and applications level – and its increasingly critical role in the energy transition of today and tomorrow.
Available on all major podcast platforms, from Apple to Spotify to Amazon Music, search for 1895 wherever you get yours – and like and subscribe to ensure you don’t miss an episode!
