Kintore 3GW hydrogen production project moves forward

The development of a flagship green hydrogen project near Kintore has taken a major step forward, with the submission of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Scoping Report to Aberdeenshire Council by Statera Energy.

This scoping request, which seeks consultee feedback on the development proposals, is an important milestone ahead of public consultation events taking place early next year.

Kintore Hydrogen will use electrolysis technology to turn surplus Scottish wind power into green hydrogen, which will supply the UK’s power generating facilities and carbon intensive industrial clusters through existing gas transmission pipelines.

In March, the UK Government confirmed that Kintore Hydrogen was a successful applicant in its Net Zero Hydrogen Fund (NZHF) Strand 1 competition, backing an initial 500MW phase of Kintore Hydrogen’s development.

At 3GW, Kintore Hydrogen will be among the largest of its type in Europe and will provide the UK gas network with a large supply of green hydrogen and joins a growing number of battery energy storage applications around the Kintore area, which to date have seen five applied for covering from Midmill in the town itself across a swaith of land to Leylodge (2023/1234; 2022/2022; 2022/065; 2022/0249; 2020/1673)

Commenting on the submission, Chris Palmer, Planning Lead at Statera Energy said: "The submission of the EIA Scoping Request is another major milestone for this project, and a significant next step for secure and clean energy production in the UK.

"Kintore Hydrogen is a flagship development that will utilise surplus Scottish wind power and Aberdeenshire and the north-east’s strategic location to play a vital role in helping the UK meet its future energy targets and the important transition to net zero."

Over the coming months, Statera will be liaising closely with Aberdeenshire Council, consultees and key stakeholders as the proposals continue to develop.

Following feedback from the Council and other consultees a Proposal of Application Notice (PoAN) will be submitted to Aberdeenshire Council, which will commence a formal statutory pre-application consultation process and public exhibitions ahead of the submission of an application next year.

Following these events, Statera intends to submit a planning application to Aberdeenshire Council in Spring 2024 with the full 3GW of production expected by the early 2030s.

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