Scotland is going to play a key part in the UK hydrogen market. It set a target to generate 5GW of clean and low carbon hydrogen by 2030, the equivalent to power 1.8 million homes. The energy Minister of Scotland Paul Wheelhouse has announced that the government pledged £100 million ($133.5million) to the hydrogen industry over the period of 2021-2026. The amount will come from the Scottish government’s £180 million Emerging Energy Technologies Fund.
While announcing the first-ever Hydrogen Policy Statement for Scotland Mr Wheelhouse said: “We are the first country in the UK to publish a hydrogen policy statement that sets out how we can make the most of Scotland’s massive potential in this new sector.”
The first hydrogen hub of the country will be built at the port of Aberdeen. The government will fund this project with £62 million in funding from the Energy Transition Fund. “Island and Ports will be energy innovation hubs bringing together large scale renewable to produce green hydrogen,” Wheelhouse said.
Nigel Holmes, the Chief Executive of the Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association also welcome the Hydrogen Policy statement. He said that the policy will make Scotland be the leading hydrogen nation, and will support Scotland achieving the net-zero target by 2045. The government claims that by 2045, the targeted 25 GW of electrolysis capacity will generate 126 TWh of green hydrogen annually Scotland, with 32 TWh to achieve Scotland’s net zero goal while the remaining 94 TWh for export.
