For Hydrogen Week UK, H2 View is delving into some of the UK’s key regions that are paving the way for a hydrogen economy.
Although both Scotland and Wales boast significant devolved powers from the central UK Government, both nations have made strides in recent years to introduce hydrogen as a key tool on their paths to decarbonisation.
Developments in Scotland
In December last year (2022), Scotland unveiled its Hydrogen Action Plan, which laid out ambitions to have a low-carbon hydrogen production capacity of 5GW by 2030, and 25 GW by 2045.
Read more: Scotland unveils Hydrogen Action Plan with 25GW aspirations by 2045
The Scottish Government has committed £100m ($123m) in funding for renewable hydrogen projects through the Hydrogen Innovation Scheme, and the Green Hydrogen fund, which is opening this year.
The 5GW goal translates to 17.TWh and over 450,000 tonnes of hydrogen per year, which the government estimates is equivalent to 15% of Scotland’s total 161TWh energy demand per year.
Michael Matheson, Scottish Net Zero and Energy Secretary, said, “Our Hydrogen Action Plan reaffirms the Scottish Government’s clear commitment to helping our hydrogen sector grow and prosper.”
Scotland’s Hydrogen Action Plan aligned with The Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) and ERM’s announcement to launch the Scotland the Rotterdam, ‘Hydrogen Highway’.
Called the Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier for Hydrogen Transport from Scotland (LHyTS) project, the partners seek to demonstrate that methylcyclohexane (MCH) as a liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC) can be successfully transported at scale, providing an export route to the Port of Rotterdam and other European locations.
Read more: Scotland to Rotterdam: Plans for LOHC ‘Hydrogen Highway’ announced
Recently, Aberdeen-based TIS Manufacturing announced it’s set to make mobile hydrogen refuelling stations, in a bid to illustrate the transferable nature of its services, from oil and gas to the renewable energy sector.
Whilst the Aberdeen City Council revealed last year it’s deploying the UK’s ‘first’ hydrogen waste truck in March 2022. The waste truck will collect vital data which will support the roll-out of future hydrogen-fuelled vehicles within the councils fleet.
Read more: TIS Manufacturing to make mobile hydrogen refuelling stations
Read more: Aberdeen City Council deploys ‘UK’s first’ hydrogen waste truck
Hydrogen progress in Wales
Another notable development in 2022 was the approval of the first hydrogen hub in Anglesey, Wales, allowing for the production of green hydrogen at the site and distributed as fuel for zero emission hydrogen-powered vehicles.
The hub is expected to be in operation by 2025, at Parc Cybi, Holyhead by social enterprise, Menter Môn, working alongside the Isle of Anglesey County Council.
Councillor Carwyn Jones, The Isle of Anglesey County Council’s Deputy Leader and portfolio holder for Regulation and Economic Development, said it was a significant step on the country’s journey towards a low carbon economy.
He said, “It is also an opportunity for us here on Anglesey and across north Wales to make a difference as we all strive to tackle climate change as hydrogen is the key to ensuring transport and many industries reduce emissions and achieve carbon Net Zero targets.”
Read more: First Wales hydrogen hub approved in Anglesey
Norwegian company Statkraft also announced plans to convert a former Royal Navy Armament Depot in Pembrokeshire, Wales, into a hydrogen hot spot.
Dubbed the Trecwn Green Energy Hub, the project plans to produce approximately three tonnes of green hydrogen per day and is intended to be used to power trains running on railway lines west of Swansea, offering a zero-carbon alternative, while reducing infrastructure investments compared to full electrification.
The company hopes the project will help support the Welsh Government’s Net Zero strategy, which plans to see 70% of electricity consumption in Wales produced by renewable sources by 2030.
Read more: Statkraft reveals plans for its first UK green hydrogen project in Wales
Later this year, a trailer and cylinder hydrogen filling station in South Wales will be onstream, following a £6.5m ($7.7m) investment from Air Products.
The station, at the Llanwern hydrogen facility, is set to make an additional 1.5 tonnes of fuel cell grade hydrogen available daily, which Air Products says will serve the transport and energy transition market, offering capacity to serve a fleet of 100 buses or 50 trucks.
Manish Patel, UK Hydrogen for Mobility Director at Air Products, said, “With a hydrogen pathway for Wales under development, it’s an exciting time to be investing in South Wales and we hope that our investment will give real impetus and momentum to the wider green economy in the region.”
Read more: Air Products announces £6.5m investment to establish hydrogen filling station in South Wales, UK
A feasibility study to produce hydrogen from biogas from the Cardiff East Waste Water Treatment Works received £372,931 in funding from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
Constain is working with Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, Wales and West Utilities and Princes Group on the study, which will assess if hydrogen can fuel boilers to provide heat for fruit juice pasteurisation.
Read more: Wales hydrogen-from-biogas study receives government funding
The UK Government has given hydrogen a renewed push, following PM Rishi Sunak’s announcement last week (February 7) a restructuring of BEIS, seeing it split up into new departments. With developments rising across the two Celtic nations, it looks likely that they will play a prominent role in the UK’s drive towards establishing a hydrogen economy.