Eneus Energy has gained planning consent for its proposed green hydrogen/ammonia plant in Orkney, Scotland, putting the company on track to deliver the first commercial plant of its kind in the UK. The development, along with the proposed wind turbines extension at Hammars Hill, was approved by the Orkney Council Planning Committee at a meeting on 20th January 2021.
The design and economics of wind turbines has improved significantly since the original Hammars Hill wind farm was built. The board of Hammars Hill have been considering a range of alternative strategies in view of the ongoing risks associated with the proposed new transmission cable between Orkney and Scotland, and the delay and uncertainty over the conditions associated with Ofgem decisions. This expansion of the existing wind farm together with the ammonia plant is an innovative example of a local ‘Power-to-X’ transformational project required to help establish a green hydrogen economy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions. and deliver net zero.
Proposed extension to Hammars Hill Wind Farm from Midhowe (credit Green Cat Renewables)
Using a zero-carbon process, the site, near Evie on the mainland of Orkney, will harness the renewable electricity generated by the wind turbines, to produce hydrogen (H₂) from water, and then combine it with nitrogen (N2) from the air to form ammonia (NH3). The storage and transport of liquid ammonia uses the same technologies as Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) and provides the opportunity to work in new markets with existing fuel suppliers on the islands.
Eneus Energy CEO Chris Bronsdon commented: “This marks a significant milestone in the commercialisation of green hydrogen and ammonia in the Orkney Islands and for Scotland. Converting green hydrogen to ammonia turns it into an easily stored and economically transportable zero carbon fuel for end-user markets. We look forward to working with our partners both on and off Orkney to deliver this project, showcasing the potential for commercial scale plants to begin to move forward.”
Orkney Islands Council has long championed the use of hydrogen to assist in the decarbonisation of the islands’ transport and heat networks. Since the submission of the application, the hydrogen sector in Scotland has been further bolstered by the recent publication of the Scottish Government’s Hydrogen Policy Statement along with the UK Government’s Energy White Paper. These Government strategies outline future support including funding streams to unlock innovative projects such as Hammars Hill.
Eneus Energy and Hammars Hill Energy have been assisted by Scottish renewable development support experts, Green Cat Renewables (GCR). GCR acted as planning agent for both parties and provided technical support and project management services, producing the planning and technical assessments to support the planning application. Hammars Hill Energy Ltd Director Alistair Gray commented: “The wind turbines will be owned and managed by Hammars Hill Energy Limited, the owners of the existing Hammars Hill Wind Farm, and we are very pleased to have achieved planning consent for the two new turbines and associated hydrogen/ammonia plant. Orkney has some of the UK’s best renewable energy resources yet being at the end of the National Grid, the islands face significant challenges in grid capacity constraints and infrastructure developments, underpinned by an unhelpful regulatory and grid charging regime.“
GCR Director Gavin Catto added: “We are delighted to have secured consent for this innovative project. As we move through the energy transition and start to decarbonise the economy more deeply, we need to start thinking more widely about energy and how we capture and utilise it. This project that uses the abundant wind energy resource available on Orkney and converts it into a fuel that can be used to decarbonise heat and transport on the islands is going to be a key demonstration of how this transition can be achieved and we are delighted to be involved with this project.”