RWE is currently progressing proposals to develop a green hydrogen production facility of up to 200MW in Grangemouth, Falkirk.
The proposed development would produce green hydrogen from the electrolysis of water, using renewable energy from the electricity network.
The green hydrogen produced would then be fed via a pipeline for use in an adjacent industrial plant, leading to a significant reduction in the CO2 emissions of the wider Grangemouth industrial area.
RWE’s Grangemouth Green Hydrogen Production Facility would be located within the Grangemouth industrial area. Access to the site will be from the A905 Wholeflats Road.
The project is in the early stages of design and we will shortly begin a full community consultation process on our plans.
As part of the planning process, RWE is undertaking a wide range of assessments to understand if the project has any potential impacts on the environment. RWE has recently submitted a scoping report to Falkirk Council. This seeks their feedback on our development proposals, the environmental aspects that should be addressed in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and the methodologies proposed to undertake these assessments. Importantly, Falkirk Council and other consultees, including the Community Council, will have the opportunity to provide early comment and feedback.
Our proposals would comprise an electrolysis plant of up to 200MW, as well as associated infrastructure to connect to nearby industry. Once operational, the site would be capable of producing up to 3.6 tonnes of hydrogen every hour.
Use of hydrogen in local industry is expected to directly result in the reduction of CO2 emissions. This CO2 saving is the equivalent of removing up to 37,200 cars from the road each year.
As part of the statutory consultation process, RWE will hold two public consultation events. The first will be on Wednesday 11 December 2024 at Grangemouth Community Education Unit, Abbots Road, Grangemouth, FK3 8JB Hub from 3-7pm.
There will also be an online exhibition for those that cannot make the in-person events.
People will be able to give feedback via our website, online exhibition and at the public events by freepost and email.
While the national energy industry has been making progress towards decarbonisation, many industrial processes cannot be electrified and are still reliant on fossil fuels. To support the decarbonisation of industry, the UK Government has set a target to deliver 10GW of green hydrogen production capacity by 2030 as hydrogen can be used to decarbonise local industry by replacing their fossil fuel usage.
The Scottish Government has a target of Net Zero carbon emissions by 2045, which is five years ahead of the rest of the UK. The Scottish Government’s “Hydrogen Action Plan” sets out this vision with an ambition of 5GW of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen production by 2030 and 25GW by 2045.
What does this mean for people in Grangemouth and the wider Falkirk region?
The area has significant local industry that will need power, but this will need to come from lower carbon sources in future if the country is going to meet its Net Zero targets. This is where our green hydrogen comes in. As more and more companies start to look for alternatives it is important to have a range of options available, including green hydrogen.
Grangemouth has been an industrial area for many decades. This project will bring significant local economic investment and create new jobs throughout the construction and operation phases.
If you would like to speak with a member of the RWE Grangemouth Green Hydrogen project team, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We are here to provide information and to, answer your questions.