Comment: how hydrogen can help Scotland to a zero-carbon future

Nigel Holmes is chief executive of Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association

Today’s policy statement by the Scottish Government confirms the increasingly important role that hydrogen will play in meeting our net zero target. Scotland is already widely recognised as one of the leading locations in Europe for developing low-carbon energy systems, including the deployment of hydrogen and fuel cell solutions. We can now use this experience to become the leading hydrogen nation.

Scotland has successfully trialled various hydrogen demonstrator projects – with Scottish and UK government support and EU funding. These are leading the way and have provided valuable practical experience.

Scotland now has skills and expertise in place to enable the rapid scale-up and development of a new hydrogen economy.

The new SGN H100 project in Methil will provide crucial evidence for the wider deployment of hydrogen for domestic heating, using hydrogen-ready combi boilers supplied with green hydrogen from offshore wind.

This hydrogen is produced by electrolysis of water. The raw materials for sustainable ‘green’ hydrogen are renewable electricity and water, both of which are in abundant supply across Scotland.

The next steps for the Scottish hydrogen economy will involve the wider deployment of supply, infrastructure, and demand in markets including transport, heat and industry.

Green hydrogen for whisky distilleries is being actively pursued, and hydrogen can target ‘hard to treat’ applications such as HGVs, manufacturing and passenger aircraft. Hydrogen and electrification will both be required to deliver net zero.

The scale-up of offshore wind will be critical, and the use of hydrogen together with electrification will allow us to achieve a faster and lower cost transition to a low-carbon economy for Scotland.

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