Renewables investor Aker Horizons has unveiled a project to use offshore wind power in the North Sea to produce green hydrogen for export from Scotland.
The Northern Horizons Project was announced this week by Aker portfolio companies Aker Offshore Wind and Aker Clean Hydrogen at the COP26 climate summit.
The 2 companies will develop the project alongside assurance and risk management firm DNV.
Under plans, the project will deploy floating offshore wind turbines to produce 10GW of energy to power multiple floating installations, which will produce green hydrogen for onward transmission to a net zero hydrogen refinery on Shetland.
The refinery, powered by floating offshore wind turbines, will produce ammonia, liquid hydrogen and synthetic fuels for local consumption and export.
“Floating offshore wind is the latest advent in renewable technology and this project will utilise giant turbines nearly as tall as the London Shard on floating platforms more than 130km from Shetland,” said Aker in a release.
The project can deliver decarbonisation targets by sending clean products to the mainland and exporting them to fuel-heavy or hard-to-abate industries, the company added.
The Scottish government has stated ambitions to develop the country as an exporter of “significant quantities” of hydrogen, according to Aker. It is targeting 5GW of hydrogen production by 2030.
Sian Lloyd-Rees, managing director of Aker Offshore Wind UK, said: “Such innovation and private sector investment are key to meeting the UK and Scotland’s net zero targets and delivering the unprecedented ambition on display here in Glasgow at COP26.”
The project is expected to be operational from 2030 and is likely to see investment in the billions during construction and operation.
