RWE and SGN announce green hydrogen partnership

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the two companies to investigate the development of electrolysers, powered by RWE’s 10 onshore wind farms in Scotland which have a combined capacity of 213 MW, to supply homes and businesses with hydrogen gas via Scotland’s gas network.

Hydrogen has a crucial role to play in achieving net zero and is an essential component for the decarbonisation of sectors such as industry, heavy load transport, aviation, and heat. Published in April 2022, the UK Government’s Energy Security Strategy doubled its ambition for low-carbon hydrogen production capacity to 10 GW by 2030. Similarly, the Scottish Government’s Hydrogen Action Plan aims to create 5 GW of hydrogen by 2030 and 25 GW by 2045.

The partnership will investigate the decarbonisation of homes and businesses connected to the networks of Campbeltown, Stornoway, Oban, Thurso and Wick, which are not connected to the mains gas network. These networks are currently supplied by LNG and LPG, which when swapped with hydrogen could save 21 000 tpy of carbon, and decarbonise around 9500 properties. The partnership will define how much hydrogen is needed, the requirements to convert these networks to hydrogen, and the supply of green electrolytic hydrogen from RWE’s renewable onshore wind farms nearby. In doing so, the project could also unlock onshore wind farm developments in grid-constrained areas, by providing a use for the green electricity generated.

A feasibility study into a 100 MW electrolyser at RWE’s Markinch CHP biomass plant will also be conducted over the coming months. This could produce green hydrogen from local and grid-connected renewable energy, to connect into SGN’s gas network in Fife. It would build on the work SGN is already undertaking in Levenmouth on their world-first H100 Fife project.

Steve Boughton, RWE Director Hydrogen Development, said: “This MoU is a perfect partnership to develop options for the decarbonisation of domestic and business gas networks, and to help Government achieve its ambitions for 10 GW of hydrogen production. Hydrogen will play an essential role in the pathway to net zero, particularly in industry and homes which is hard to decarbonise, and RWE is perfectly positioned to support the development of the UK hydrogen economy.”

Fergus Tickell, SGN System Transformation and Business Development Lead, said: “We’re delighted to partner with RWE which shares our belief that hydrogen gas has a leading role in the decarbonisation of homes, businesses and industry in Scotland and the rest of the UK.

“We’ll explore how hydrogen produced locally can be delivered through the world-class networks we’ve been operating for decades, to all of Scotland’s communities, including in Fife, Campbeltown, Stornoway, Oban, Thurso and Wick. We also look forward to investigating more opportunities across the UK.”

The knowledge and experience gained from these initial studies will enable a better understanding of the practicalities and economics of the entire hydrogen cycle and will be an important precursor to a potential funding application under the UK Government’s Net Zero Hydrogen Fund.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalhydrogenreview.com/hydrogen/21062022/rwe-and-sgn-announce-green-hydrogen-partnership/