Plans are in motion to establish Europe’s largest green hydrogen project in Scotland.
Developers behind the largest proposed hydrogen production scheme in the UK have entered an early planning stage. Statera Energy has submitted a Planning Permission in Principle (PPiP) application for its 3GW Kintore Hydrogen project in north-east Scotland after public consultation.
Statera Energy claims that if the application is successful, Kintore Hydrogen could significantly benefit the UK economy, potentially providing up to £1 billion in economic productivity benefits by 2035. The project is also expected to create numerous local jobs.
An independent consultancy suggested that the project could create a peak of around 3,500 jobs during the construction phase and up to 200 operational jobs. Aberdeenshire Council received the application on Monday and it is likely to be validated in the coming weeks.
If approved, the green hydrogen project will use electricity generated by Scottish offshore wind to produce renewable fuel, explained Statera. Chris Palmer, Statera’s planning lead, stated that the project would bring significant investment to the local area and support a renewables-led power system.
Statera’s engagement with over 250 locals during two public consultations has been positive, receiving valuable feedback that helped shape the proposal. However, some locals expressed concerns about the use of pipelines and their impact on the landscape.
Kintore Hydrogen aims for full production by the early 2030s, with the first phase of 500MW to be operational before 2030.
