Hydrogen export plans receive economic boost from Scottish Government

Scotland's Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) has received a £200,000 fund from the Scottish Government to research the value of exporting hydrogen to Germany. 

Researchers will explore several export-import scenarios, examining their technology and regulation requirements as well as their end-use by various sectors.

Martyn Tulloch, director of energy transition at NZTC said: “Analysis from the International Energy Agency shows that Scotland has vast potential for green hydrogen production from offshore wind. At the same time, it’s widely recognised that Germany will have the greatest demand for low-carbon hydrogen as Europe moves towards net zero. 

“This funding marks a significant step forward in strengthening cross-border ties and will position Scotland and Germany at the heart of an integrated North Sea pipeline system.”

Last July, a strategy published by the German Government revealed the country aimed to reach net zero by 2045 – the same target as Scotland. The scheme also outlined that to meet this objective, the country would have to import at least 50 per cent of its hydrogen energy – a demand Scotland hopes to satisfy. 

The Scottish Government’s Hydrogen Action Plan estimates that developing a hydrogen economy could create more than 300,000 jobs and have a GVA impact of up to £25m per year by 2045. 

The research will outline the benefits of an integrated pan-North Sea offshore hydrogen pipeline network to harvest north-west Europe’s offshore wind resource.

It will also facilitate an alignment between spatial and infrastructure planning as well as encourage coordination between countries to form a unified European hydrogen strategy.

Researchers will also bring together outcomes from NZTC’s previous research including its Hydrogen Backbone link, which focused on the infrastructure required to deliver an affordable pipeline between Scotland, to AquaVentus's AquaDuctus  initiative – a pipeline located in the German North Sea that looks to connect green hydrogen obtained offshore with onshore infrastructure in mainland Europe.

Scottish Government energy minister Gillian Martin added: “We support this cutting-edge research because it can unlock the case for hydrogen exports from Scotland and strengthen ties and opportunities with Germany.

“It could also help spur investment in pipelines and other infrastructures in Scottish and German waters, to match our hydrogen production with overseas demand.

“This innovative project is helping accelerate efforts to create a greener, more prosperous economy and reach net zero.”