Scotland’s west coast is poised to become a strategic node in the UK’s green hydrogen export ambitions as Clydeport, part of Peel Ports Group, signs an option agreement with Statkraft to assess the feasibility of a hydrogen production and export facility at Hunterston PARC.
The site, a former coal terminal, is being reimagined as a multi-energy hub with ambitions to channel £3.5 billion in investment and create over 5,000 jobs.
With the UK government targeting 10 GW of low-carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030, facilities capable of exporting hydrogen—particularly in the form of ammonia—are gaining strategic urgency. The proposed project at Hunterston would pipe hydrogen from a land-based production site to a jetty for export, enabling maritime shipment to international markets. While technical and commercial feasibility remain under review, the facility would be one of the UK’s first dedicated hydrogen-exporting ports if realized.
Hunterston PARC is already home to several other energy transition projects. Highview Power is developing what would be the world’s largest Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) facility on-site, targeting long-duration, grid-scale storage. XLCC is constructing the UK’s first subsea energy cable manufacturing facility to support interconnector projects, while Bakkafrost is advancing an onshore aquaculture facility, positioning the campus as a magnet for clean industrial innovation.
While Peel Ports has secured planning permission for a £150 million redevelopment of the site’s marine yard aimed at offshore wind support, it remains open to alternative proposals. The marine yard, paired with the hydrogen project, strengthens the case for Hunterston as a vertically integrated clean energy export hub—blending production, assembly, and distribution from a single coastal platform.
Yet critical questions remain, particularly around timelines, financing, and regulatory hurdles. Hydrogen exports from the UK are not yet a commercial reality. Current ammonia infrastructure is oriented toward fertilizer markets, and significant scaling of green ammonia export will require investment in new vessels, handling terminals, and customer-side demand development.
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