RWE, the giant German electricity generator and renewable energy firm, has announced a plan to develop a “groundbreaking” green hydrogen project at Grangemouth.
RWE said it would supply the first hydrogen produced to INEOS Grangemouth, assisting INEOS in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.
“Once developed, consented and operational, the initial capacity is anticipated to be up to 200MWe, potentially producing up to 3.6 tonnes of hydrogen per hour, with ambitions for potential expansion to 600Mwe at a later date,” said RWE.
“This project will reduce INEOS’s carbon emissions and will offer other industrial users the chance to transition to green hydrogen, putting Grangemouth at the heart of decarbonisation in Scotland.”
RWE said the project could be operational by 2029 and constructed on land within the Grangemouth industrial complex, adjacent to the INEOS facility and the hydrogen produced would be piped a short distance to the site.
The German firm said Scotland holds strategic importance for its operations, with approximately 480MW of installed renewable capacity across 26 sites. With further expansions underway, including 100MW of onshore wind in construction, RWE said it remains committed to driving the transition to renewable energy and advancing hydrogen development initiatives across Scotland.
“This project will support INEOS Grangemouth’s commitment to have Net Zero carbon emissions by 2045 and contribute to the decarbonisation of other existing and future industries in Grangemouth,” said RWE.
“RWE has completed concept, feasibility and pre-Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) studies.
“A grid connection has been secured and the company is shortlisting electrolyser suppliers. The next steps will be progressing towards a planning application which will include local consultation on the project.
“RWE and INEOS share a common vision for shaping the future hydrogen economy in Grangemouth and Scotland.
“Working together on this reflects the joint commitment to driving innovation, fostering sustainability, and supporting Scotland’s broader net zero targets to deliver a greener future, safeguard jobs and decarbonise key industrial sectors.”
Sopna Sury, COO Hydrogen RWE Generation, said: “This is a significant step towards RWE’s ambitions for the production of green hydrogen in Scotland.
“As one of the world’s leading energy companies, RWE has significant experience in onshore and offshore wind, developing green hydrogen production plants and operating large scale gas plants.
“This project at Grangemouth aligns with the Scottish Government’s vision for a ‘Just Transition’, putting Scotland at the forefront of the green revolution while protecting jobs and decarbonising Grangemouth.”
Colin Pritchard, Sustainability Director at the INEOS Grangemouth site, said: “We are pleased to support RWE in their investment in green hydrogen at our site in Grangemouth.
“This perfectly augments our project to develop a low-carbon (blue) hydrogen production unit at Grangemouth, with the CO2 exported deep underground in the North Sea via the Acorn transport and storage system.
“Together these projects support delivery of our net zero roadmap and place Grangemouth at the heart of Scotland’s future hydrogen economy.”