Plan for UK’s biggest hydrogen plant rejected

Plans to build the UK’s biggest hydrogen production plant near Kintore have been dealt a blow after councillors asked for it to be refused.

Statera Energy is behind the 3GW Kintore Hydrogen project that would be one of the largest sites of its kind in Europe.

The production facility would use surplus energy generated by Scotland’s many offshore wind turbines and water from the River Don to create green hydrogen.

A link would be created between the electrolysis plant and Kintore substation, while an underground pipeline would export hydrogen to National Gas’s national transmission system.

Up to 3,500 construction jobs would be created to build the site, while more than 300 would be in place once it is operational.

The proposal hasn’t been popular with residents as 83 letters of objection against the development were sent to Aberdeenshire Council.

Local authority planners revealed the site would be likely to have a visual impact on the area, but this could be sorted out at the full planning stage.

Historic Environment Scotland objected to the development as they believed it would have an “unacceptable significant impact” on the South Leylodge steading stone circle.

However, council planners recommended the plans be approved as the site would help with “ambitious” national and regional hydrogen targets.

They believed this would outweigh any potential landscape and visual harm.

Outline plans for the facility went before a special meeting of the Garioch area committee earlier today.

Senior development manager for the Kintore project, William Summerlin argued the case for the hydrogen plant.

He said it would create economic benefits across Garioch, Aberdeenshire and the rest of Scotland.

“In Garioch, there are supply chain businesses, industrial parks in Inverurie, Kintore and Westhill that are banging down our door to tender for this project,” he revealed.

“In construction, this project would be a boon for accommodation and hospitality providers and there will be high quality operational jobs as well.”

He also revealed that equipment for the site would be manufactured at “assembly hubs” in Aberdeen and Glasgow.

Mr Summerlin suggested there was “no better location” for the development than Kintore, as it was surrounded by three critical pieces of infrastructure – the substation, gas network and the River Don.

June Morrison and Geoff Fisher spoke at the meeting on behalf of Leylodge Against Industrialisation.

Ms Morrison stated the group wasn’t against renewable energy, but believed the Kintore countryside was being “ruined”.

She claimed the planned industrial infrastructure at Leylodge and those in the surrounding area would equate to 240 full-sized football pitches or 13,200 car parking spaces.

Mr Fisher worried about the health and safety of residents living nearby.

“While it has been stated there is no hydrogen storage on site, it will have 11 tonnes of high pressure hydrogen within its pipeline at any one time,” he stated.

“The volume of pressure is equivalent to 315.15 tonnes of TNT explosive power energy.

“Given the potential consequences of a fire or explosion, it’s astonishing that the report before councillors doesn’t consider this at all.”

East Garioch councillor Jim Gifford urged his colleagues to refuse the proposal.

He argued that more needed to be done to explain the reasons why the various industrial developments are needed around Kintore and how they join up.

Mr Gifford explained: “What we’ve been getting for a long time are applications for substations, pipeline routes, turbines, battery storage plants and now this.

“All we are ever getting is one little piece of the jigsaw at a time but with no idea of what the bigger picture looks like.”

He also believed that the hydrogen plant was being compromised as developers are having to work around what is already there.

And, he wanted to “safeguard” residents from having more industrial infrastructure imposed on them.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt we need the hydrogen – it’s a big step on the road forward to get away from fossil fuels,” he said.

“I’m not convinced that the balance in terms of climate change taking precedence over the amenity of people living in the area has been made.

“We need to protect our residents… It’s just too close to too many people.”

Mr Gifford added: “I just find it a bit odd we give more weight to some fallen down stones and a derelict canal than we do to people living in the proximity to this.”

However, Inverurie councillor Neil Baillie said he was happy to see the development be granted following the “valuable” debate.

“When we’re looking at new technology like this, we’ve gained more information today but we need more infinite detail when it comes to full council.

“We have to keep in mind with this type of technology that we are looking at wind power generation, a source of water supply and tying it in to electrical and pipeline infrastructure.

“Where else would you put it but here?”

Meanwhile, councillor Ron McKail also wanted to see the plan approved.

He said: “Whilst the development would have several significant impacts, the benefits of the scheme to increasing national hydrogen production and offsetting greenhouse gas emissions would outweigh these.”

But following a vote, the committee put forward a recommendation to refuse the application by seven to three.

One no vote was also recorded.

The application is expected to go before full council for a final decision next month.