H2 Green has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Highland Council, aimed at creating a network of green hydrogen hubs across the region.
Edinburgh-based fuels developer H2 Green – a unit of technology and asset developer Getech – said the agreement would help accelerate decarbonisation across the Highlands council area, which covers almost one-third of Scotland.
The MoU will see the two collaborate to produce a regional plan for the network, placing hydrogen production, storage and delivery infrastructure at optimal locations across the Highlands.
It will also seek to build commercial agreements for green hydrogen offtake, underpinned by transport decarbonisation initiatives, as well as agreements for the consumption of by-products of hydrogen generation, including oxygen and zero-emission heat.
Highland Council will contribute £100,000 to the cost of the initial work.
Getech said the plans would help establish the Highlands as “the leading UK centre” for decarbonisation and innovation, and support job creation, energy security and a sustainable path for the region’s net zero transition.
The two have already commenced negotiations on the terms of a joint venture agreement under which the proposed Highlands decarbonisation plan will be delivered. To facilitate this negotiation, the Highland Council has granted H2 Green six months of exclusivity.
H2 Green has already signed a separate deal with SGN Commercial Services (SGN) to develop a major green hydrogen facility in Inverness at a former SGN gas holder site.
The site on Harbour Road lies between Inverness’s rail depot and industrial area and would provide green hydrogen directly to large volume customers, including rail, bus, and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs).
Capacity here is expected to reach eight tonnes of hydrogen per day, which could service 800 HGVs per day.
Getech chief executive Dr Jonathan Copus, added: “The signing of the MoU is a significant milestone for our plan to establish a world-class regional hydrogen network in the Highlands. At the core of this network is our first planned hydrogen hub with SGN Commercial Services located in Inverness, which will service large-volume customers.
“In line with these goals, we have already announced agreements with Eversholt Rail to accelerate the wide-scale deployment of their hydrogen-powered trains on the Far North and West Highland Lines of Scotland.”
Leader of the Highland Council, Councillor Margaret Davidson, said: “We view H2 Green as a dynamic and delivery-focused partner positioned to deliver this vision for the Council. The planned work has the potential to establish the Highlands as a leading innovation centre for the decarbonisation of commercial transport. We see this as an important opportunity to attract external investment into the region, providing additional jobs and supply chain developments that will accelerate the net zero transition.”
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