The Flotta Hydrogen Hub is a new £multi-billion project proposal to create a green hydrogen hub on the island of Flotta in Orkney, powered by offshore wind projects in the seas to the west of Orkney. This green hydrogen from offshore wind could be exported to Europe or other destinations, blended into the UK gas grid at St Fergus, and drive forward an international maritime green hydrogen refuelling hub.
Edward Northam, Head of Green Investment Group Europe, said: “We believe that green hydrogen could provide a critical alternative route to market for some of Scotland’s largest offshore wind projects and play a significant role in creating wider economic benefits as the North Sea goes through its energy transition. We look forward to working with the Flotta partners to continue to develop this proposal.”
This significant inward investment would utilise a repurposed area of the Flotta Terminal to offer new employment opportunities for existing workers, with 25+ years of operation and a maritime low carbon refuelling port ensuring that Orkney remains at the heart of the UK's evolving energy revolution.
James Stockan, Leader of Orkney Islands Council, said: “Flotta is an ideal location for green hydrogen production – it is surrounded by the best wind resource in Europe, it lies close to major shipping routes within the vast natural harbour of Scapa Flow. The time is right to maximise the incredible natural assets and geography of the Flow and Orkney to ensure a long-term sustainable, climate-friendly future for our communities.”
Flotta Hydrogen Hub proposal for large scale green hydrogen, using offshore wind in N1 area west of Orkney (Credit: www.flottahydrogenhub.com)
This opportunity for offshore wind at multi-GW scale is being explored by Offshore Wind Power Limited (OWPL), a consortium formed by Macquarie’s Green Investment Group (GIG), TotalEnergies and Scottish developer Renewable Infrastructure Development Group (RIDG). OWPL have submitted a proposal to the Crown Estate Scotland’s offshore wind leasing round (ScotWind) to develop the N1 plan option area west of Orkney. If successful, their proposal – called the West of Orkney Windfarm – could deliver part of its low carbon capacity to the proposed Flotta Hydrogen Hub.
Neil Kermode, Managing Director of SHFCA member EMEC added: “Orkney is well advanced in its ambition to be the global centre of excellence for research and demonstration of how the hydrogen economy of the future will work. We generated the world’s first tidal-powered green hydrogen in 2017 at EMEC’s tidal test site and have led various green hydrogen projects exploring generation, logistics and end use. For this project to go ahead, a number of vital elements will have to fall into place, including a market for green hydrogen. We are pleased to be collaborating with our offshore wind partners in pursuit of this goal and we are already in discussion with the Scottish and UK governments to explore the mechanisms required to make this vision happen.”
Plans to power the proposed Flotta Hydrogen Hub are being developed by OWPL in partnership with Flotta Terminal’s owner Repsol Sinopec, and Uniper, a leading international energy company. The proposal is also supported locally by EMEC Hydrogen who have spearheaded Orkney’s leading position in green hydrogen production. If successful, this ambitious plan – which could be realised in the late 2020’s – would deliver a new wave of renewable employment alongside significant quantities of green hydrogen.