Scottish company Eneus Energy has gained planning consent for a proposed green hydrogen/ammonia plant in Orkney, Scotland, which would be the first commercial facility 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 20 January, the company said. Eneus said the plant, near Evie, will harness the renewable electricity generated by the wind turbines to produce hydrogen from water, and then combine the gas with nitrogen from the air to form ammonia. The wind farm extension will see two 150-metre turbines built adding 8.4MW to the existing 4.5MW project.
Renews.biz 21st Jan 2021 read more »
Energy supplier Centrica is considering converting its Rough natural gas storage site off the coast of Yorkshire to store hydrogen. The FTSE 250 company closed Rough as a natural gas storage site in 2017 but is looking at re-purposing it after a boom in interest in the clean-burning fuel. Supporters hope hydrogen could be used to cut carbon emissions particularly in heavy industry and possibly heating – although there remains debate over the extent to which it can and should be used. British Gas owner Centrica is also joining the Hydrogen Taskforce, a group of industry players lobbying the government to support hydrogen development. Other members include Arup, BP, Shell, Northern Gas Networks and ITM Power. The government is already keen on the fuel, and wants there to be 5GW of low-carbon hydrogen capacity by 2050 to help with its legally binding target of net zero carbon emissions.
Telegraph 22nd Jan 2021 read more »