H2 Green has inked an agreement with Highland Council to establish a network of green hydrogen hubs around the region.
The arrangement, according to Edinburgh-based fuels developer H2 Green – a subsidiary of technology and asset developer Getech – will help expedite decarbonisation in the Highlands council area, which encompasses nearly one-third of Scotland.
The two parties will collaborate to develop a regional plan for the network, which will include best locations for hydrogen production, storage, and distribution infrastructure throughout the Highlands.
Additionally, it will strive to develop commercial agreements for green hydrogen offtake, backed by transportation decarbonisation efforts, as well as agreements for the consumption of hydrogen generation byproducts such as oxygen and zero-emission heat.
Highland Council will donate £100,000 toward the initial costs of the project. Getech stated that the proposals would help establish the Highlands as “the leading UK centre” for decarbonisation and innovation, while also promoting job development, energy security, and a sustainable path to net zero emissions in the region.
The two have already begun negotiations on the parameters of a joint venture agreement that will oversee the delivery of the projected Highlands decarbonisation programme. The Highland Council has granted H2 Green six months of exclusivity to aid this negotiation.
H2 Green has already inked a separate agreement with SGN Commercial Services (SGN) for the development of a large green hydrogen factory in Inverness on the site of a former SGN gas holder.
The Harbour Road site is located between Inverness’s rail terminal and industrial sector and would supply green hydrogen directly to high-volume clients such as train, bus, and heavy freight trucks (HGVs).
The facility is planned to have a daily capacity of eight tonnes of hydrogen, which is enough to power 800 HGVs.
“The signing of the MoU is an important milestone in our strategy to develop a world-class regional hydrogen network in the Highlands,” Getech chief executive Dr Jonathan Copus remarked. At the heart of this network is our first planned hydrogen hub, which will be located in Inverness with SGN Commercial Services and will support high-volume customers.
“In line with these goals, we have already announced agreements with Eversholt Rail to accelerate the wide-scale deployment of their hydrogen-powered trains on the Far North and West Highland Lines of Scotland.”
Leader of the Highland Council, Councillor Margaret Davidson, said: “We view H2 Green as a dynamic and delivery-focused partner positioned to deliver this vision for the Council. The planned work has the potential to establish the Highlands as a leading innovation centre for the decarbonisation of commercial transport. We see this as an important opportunity to attract external investment into the region, providing additional jobs and supply chain developments that will accelerate the net zero transition.”
