Site of Scots hydrogen fuel plant revealed
Scottish energy firm Hy2Go has outlined its plans for a green hydrogen production hub in the country.
The move will see a new £45m facility created in Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, delivering fuel to hydrogen buses.
It is expected that work on the factory will begin in 2021 with it potentially up and running by the time of the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow.
The site, which will be 51 acres and have its own wind turbines and solar PV, will have a 9MW hydrogen electrolyser with capacity to increase it to 20MW when the facility is expanded. It will produce 800,000kg of hydrogen per year with plans for 1m kg per year eventually.
By using green hydrogen as an alternative fuel, it is the equivalent of removing 7,500 cars from the road each year.
Ryse Hydrogen, founded by JCB heir Jo Bamford, will take a substantial part of the fuel and use it for its Wrightbus service – which includes the recently launched hydrogen double decker bus in Aberdeen.
Speaking about the deal, Hy2Go chairman Brendan Flood, said: “With the fleet of Wrightbuses on the streets of Aberdeen, and Glasgow already in possession of a fleet of hydrogen-powered gritters with refuse trucks on their way, the need for Scotland to produce its own green hydrogen is clear.
“This facility will not only make Glasgow a strategically important part of the hydrogen economy, but will put Scotland and the UK on the hydrogen map.”
“The global hydrogen sector is gathering pace and we intend to be at the forefront of the energy revolution.”
Bamford said: “There is now the inspirational prospect of Scottish-made hydrogen being used to transport COP26 delegates around Glasgow.”
“This would be an ideal demonstration to the world that Scotland is perfectly placed to be a world-leader in hydrogen production because of its abundance of wind and water, which are the two ingredients you need to make hydrogen.”
