Speyside Hydrogen
The project
Speyside Hydrogen is a pioneering project that will convert renewable electricity into hydrogen to fuel operations across distilleries and other businesses in Moray and north-east Scotland.
The Proposed Development plans to convert locally generated, renewable electricity into hydrogen for use by locally based customers, mainly but not limited to distilleries, in the Moray area. When burned, hydrogen produces only water vapour, making it a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels which release carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere when used.
The initial phase of Speyside Hydrogen will provide an operational 35MW electrolyser facility proposed at Ballindalloch. The area has a strong heritage of whisky production and innovation and boasts excellent access to energy and transport infrastructure as well as industry expertise.
Future phases of Speyside Hydrogen may expand hydrogen production for the regional market and export markets.
The team
Storegga’s Speyside Hydrogen team is a close-knit unit with links to the whisky industry, Moray and the wider north-east of Scotland.
We believe in sustainable development, from the earliest moment through to construction and operations.
The need
Responsible whisky distillers, in common with many businesses in Scotland and around the globe, face a challenging Net Zero journey on the back of long-standing reliance on fossil fuels for heavy heat and transport.
These more challenging to decarbonise segments of the economy are exacerbated by remote and/or rural locations, and can face hurdles to alternatives including heat recovery, electrification and bioenergy.
Hydrogen complements other decarbonisation opportunities, seeking to be part of the energy transition solution by converting locally produced, often curtailed, renewable electricity into green energy that can be used to meet industry demands for power, heat and transport.
The technology will play a significant part in meeting carbon reduction targets from both the Scottish and UK government. Hydrogen is recognised as a key element in the Scottish Whisky Association's Pathway to Net-Zero.
Across the world, hydrogen already supplies established industrial processes and is expanding at pace into new applications. In their 2021 Review, the International Energy Agency envisages 140 million tonnes of low carbon hydrogen by 2030 with global hydrogen production of 250 million tonnes by 2050.
The impacts
Speyside Hydrogen represents an economic and community opportunity for the people of Moray, the north-east and beyond.
The development will support the decarbonisation necessary to help safeguard existing employment at distilleries and their supply chain partners while creating new high-skilled, high-value jobs on the back of construction and operation.
Speyside Hydrogen can also help to open the door to new opportunities in the global clean energy sector, while anchoring new industries, engineering and suppliers to the region.
And of course, by cutting emissions across distilling and other sectors, the project will help to keep Scotland on an accelerated path to Net Zero, enhance the country's global reputation and help secure the future of one of our most important export products.
Timing
The pre-application process for Speyside Hydrogen will start in March 2024 as part of the engineering design phase, and we expect to file a full planning application with Moray Council in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Community consultation and stakeholder engagement will continue throughout the development process.
If approved, the final investment decision for Speyside Hydrogen could come as early as 2025 with construction starting later that year. On that timeline a Speyside Hydrogen operation in Ballindalloch could be operational in 2027.
Full details of the project are coming soon. At all stages the development of Speyside Hydrogen will be subject to consultation with communities and stakeholders.
Additional phases of Speyside Hydrogen are also in development as part of a regional blueprint. More information about those future phases will also be available soon.
Questions?
If you would like to provide feedback directly to the Speyside Hydrogen project team, please email Speyside.Hydrogen@storegga.earth or use the Contact Us button.
HYDROGEN
