Consortium explores mega green hydrogen plant in Scotland
West of Orkney Windfarm could deliver highly competitive power to facilities like the Flotta Hydrogen Hub.
Offshore Wind Power Limited (OWPL) today (12th October) has announced to study the use of offshore wind to power the production of green hydrogen on an industrial scale on the island of Flotta in Orkney, Scotland.
OWPL is a consortium formed by Macquarie’s Green Investment Group, TotalEnergies and Scottish developer Renewable Infrastructure Development Group (RIDG). It has submitted a proposal (called the West of Orkney Windfarm) to Crown Estate Scotland’s offshore wind leasing round (ScotWind) to develop the N1 plan option area west of Orkney.
If successful, it would deliver renewable power to a green hydrogen production facility at the Flotta Terminal. OWPL is developing the proposed Flotta Hydrogen Hub in partnership with Flotta Terminal’s owner Repsol Sinopec, and Uniper. The proposal is also supported locally by EMEC Hydrogen, which spearheaded Orkney’s leading position in green hydrogen production.
Edward Northam, Head of Green Investment Group Europe, said, “We believe that green hydrogen could provide a critical alternative route to market for some of Scotland’s largest offshore wind projects.”
Julien Pouget, Senior VP Renewables at TotalEnergies, commented, “With our proposed West of Orkney windfarm, there is an opportunity to create one of the world’s first green hydrogen plants in Orkney.”
Mike Hay, RIDG Commercial Director, added, “[We] have already completed cable routing assessments and nearshore geophysical surveys to better understand the practical aspects of project delivery.”
James Stockan, Leader of Orkney Islands Council, stated, “Flotta is an ideal location for green hydrogen production.”
Dr Axel Wietfeld, CEO of Uniper Hydrogen, said, “The Flotta Hydrogen Hub is an exciting concept, with the potential to deliver green hydrogen for the domestic and export markets.”
José Luis Muñoz, CEO of Repsol Sinopec, explained, “The repurposing of Flotta will require local stakeholders support, retaining and upskilling the current workforce as well as the creation of long-term skilled jobs during both construction and hydrogen operations.”
Neil Kermode, MD of EMEC, declared, “Orkney is well advanced in its ambition to be the global centre of excellence for research and demonstration of how the hydrogen economy of the future will work.”
