(Kintore / Great Britain) – British energy generation and storage developer Statera Energy Ltd. has announced plans to develop a large-scale green hydrogen project. The location is Kintore, Aberdeenshire, at the north-eastern tip of Scotland. According to the plans, the project called “Kintore Hydrogen” will one day have electrolyzers with an output of three gigawatts and will use excess wind energy to produce 200.000 tons of green hydrogen annually.
Hydrogen via natural gas pipeline for industry
The British government has now confirmed that Kintore Hydrogen will receive funding for the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) from the Net Zero Hydrogen Fund (NZHF) for the first phase with a capacity of 500 megawatts. This also includes planning and permits. The study is expected to be completed by 2024. The investment decision will be made in 2025. The expansion to the full production output of three gigawatts is expected by 2030.
The hydrogen will be transported from Kintore to the industrial centers in the south of Great Britain via the gas pipeline network. © Statera Energy Ltd.
The hydrogen will supply carbon-intensive industries via existing gas pipelines. This will reduce the need for costly network reinforcements required to transport electricity not used locally from Scotland to other parts of the UK.
The project will also contribute to the decarbonization of energy-intensive British industry by converting natural gas pipelines to a greater proportion of green hydrogen. This, in turn, will “improve the UK’s energy security, deliver vital national infrastructure, unlock private investment in the green economy and create high-skilled local jobs,” it is expected. “Kintore will be a flagship project for Statera,” said Tom Vernon, managing director of Statera Energy.
Molecules as long-term energy storage
The project could play “a critical role” in both relieving the load on the grid and providing long-term energy storage, going beyond the expected capabilities of battery storage and pumped storage, said Julian Leslie, head of grids and chief engineer at power transmission system operator National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO). “The reuse of existing gas networks is crucial for connecting hydrogen producers with consumers to ensure a reliable and efficient supply” of the energy source, emphasizes Antony Green, director of hydrogen at the gas transmission network operator National Gas Transmission.
Statera Energy is a UK-based energy company that develops, owns and operates projects in power generation, battery storage, hydropower and green hydrogen. According to its own information, it has one gigawatt of battery storage in operation or under construction and a further 13 gigawatts of hydrogen production, battery storage, flexible power generation and pumped storage in development.
More info about Kintore Hydrogen
Photos
Statera wants to use wind power to produce hydrogen in Kintore, Scotland. © Statera Energy Ltd.
