Worley secures FEED contract for Kintore Hydrogen project in Aberdeenshire

Statera Energy has awarded a front end engineering and design (FEED) contract for the first phase of its 3GW Kintore Hydrogen project to Australian firm Worley.

Located in Aberdeenshire, the Kintore project is set to be the largest green hydrogen project in Europe once operational.

Kintore Hydrogen is equivalent to 30% of the UK’s 2030 target of 10 GW of low-carbon hydrogen production capacity.

The project aims to harness surplus electricity generated by Scotland’s offshore wind resources to produce green hydrogen, helping to decarbonise power generation facilities and industrial clusters across the region.

Kintore Hydrogen a ‘groundbreaking project’

Statera Energy project director Don Harrold described Kintore Hydrogen as a “groundbreaking project”.

“(Kintore Hydrogen is) a key demonstration of Statera’s commitment to meeting the challenge of decarbonising the UK’s energy system and industrial sectors and, in the process, providing vital energy security,” Mr Harrold said.

© Supplied by Statera

“We see the North East of Scotland playing a major part in the energy transition, and this project is a real opportunity to position the region at the forefront of the growth of the green hydrogen sector.

“We’re delighted to be working with Worley to deliver the FEED study with excellent local talent and expertise.”

Worley vice president of onshore energy Graham Swan said work will be led from the company’s Aberdeen office.

“Our ability to deliver from Aberdeen was pivotal in securing this contract,” Mr Swan said.

“The North East of Scotland is in the midst of a major transition, as the region aims to become a key hub for energy transition activities to accelerate net zero ambitions.”

Kintore Hydrogen FID set for 2025

In a statement Worley said the proposed FEED study has a target completion date in Q4 2024 and a target final investment decision in 2025.

The full 3GW of production is expected to be online by the 2030s.

Kintore Hydrogen was a successful applicant in the UK Government’s Net Zero Hydrogen Fund (NZHF) Strand 1 competition in March 2023.

© Supplied by ERM

As a result, the project received funding for the FEED, planning and consenting work for the initial 500MW phase.

Other Scottish hydrogen projects to receive government funding include a green hydrogen hub in Inverness from H2 Green, a floating hydrogen demonstrator project from ERM Dolphyn, the Lanarkshire Green Hydrogen project from Octopus Hydrogen and the Knockshinnoch Green Hydrogen Hub project in East Ayrshire.

Funding has also been allocated towards Storegga’s Cromarty Firth hydrogen project, designed to provide green fuel for heating processes in whisky distilleries using hydrogen via a nearby windfarm.