A hydrogen hub is to be built on the Scottish island of Flota for the production of green hydrogen from wind power. Image: Flota Hydrogen Hub

Offshore Wind Power Limited (OWPL), a consortium formed by Macquarie’s green investment group, Total Energy, and Scottish project developer Renewable Infrastructure Development Group (RIDG), has announced that it will use offshore wind power for production. Green hydrogen was studied on an industrial scale on the Isle of Flota in Orkney, Scotland. The OWPL consortium has submitted a proposal for the Crown Estate Scotland (Scotwind) offshore wind lease round for the development of the N1 option area west of Orkney. If the proposal is successful, the West of Orkney wind farm could provide renewable energy for the green hydrogen production facility at Flota Terminal.

Plans are being developed to supply the Flota Hydrogen Hub proposed by OWPL in partnership with the owner of Flota Terminal, Repsol Sinopec and Unipar. The proposal is also supported by EMEC Hydrogen.

Electricity for the water electrolysis is to be supplied by a new wind farm (“West of Orkney”) for which Total Energy is responsible. The consortium partners expect “extremely competitive energy”.

First, the feasibility of the project is to be examined – including cabling and geophysical investigations. The location is ideal because, on the one hand, “Europe’s best wind resources” can be harnessed, and on the other, the location on important shipping routes and the natural port of Scapa Flow is favourable.

The Flota terminal has been in operation at the site since 1976 and has supported conventional oil and gas activities until now. It has to be gradually transformed into a diverse energy centre. Project a. will be based on Association’s dedicated website described.