UK-based green energy and storage developer Statera Energy has announced plans for the development of a major green hydrogen electrolyzer project in Kintore, Aberdeenshire in Scotland. The project is targeting full production by 2030, and has been granted UK Government funding under Strand 1 of the Net Zero Hydrogen Fund.
Kintore Hydrogen is a 3 GW electrolyser project, which will use surplus Scottish wind power to create green hydrogen to supply Statera's power generating facilities and the UK's most carbon intensive industrial clusters through existing gas transmission pipelines.
Tom Vernon, Managing Director, Statera Energy said, "Kintore Hydrogen is another demonstration of Statera's commitment to balancing the grid and meeting the challenge of decarbonising the UK's energy system. The project will produce green hydrogen at scale in an optimal location, offering low-cost, secure and storable energy to the UK system".
The UK Government has confirmed that Kintore Hydrogen will receive 50 percent funding for its Front End Engineering Design (FEED), planning and consenting work. It has backed the initial 500MW phase of Kintore Hydrogen's development. The proposed FEED study has a target completion date in 2024 and the project will be ready for an investment decision in 2025.
Statera claims that the project will offer significant benefits to the UK and its transition to net zero. It will enable Scottish wind generation to be used in situ for electrolysis to generate green hydrogen. This will reduce the need for more costly transmission grid reinforcements to convey excess electricity in Scotland to other parts of the UK.
The 3GW electrolyzer project will also complement the conversion of the UK's natural gas transmission pipelines to carry a greater share of lower-carbon, green hydrogen, helping decarbonize energy intensive UK industry. This will improve the UK's energy security, as well as creating nationally important infrastructure, unlocking private investment in the green economy, and creating highly skilled local jobs, it adds.
Statera Energy has about 1GW of battery storage and flexible generation in operation or under construction with a further 13GW of hydrogen production, battery storage, flexible generation and pumped storage in development.