Wood completes work on pioneering Scottish hydrogen energy project

ENGINEERING giant Wood has highlighted its belief in the potential for hydrogen energy to help reduce emissions in the UK after completing work on a flagship project on the west coast.

The Aberdeen-based company produced designs for a facility at Machrihanish Airbase on the Kintyre Peninsula that could be used to produce what is billed as green hydrogen from water.

Gas networks business

SGN is considering building the facility at Machrihanish for use in its Hydrogen 100 demonstrator project.

This will involve using power generated offshore to produce hydrogen that is expected to heat up to 300 homes.

Wood said the Machrihanish project concerned a pioneering development that could make a significant contribution towards the decarbonisation of the UK’S heating sector.

It noted that when powered by renewable energy, the generation and burning of hydrogen produces no carbon.

SGN is also considering a site at Levenmouth in Fife for the H100 demonstrator.

Wood wants to increase its presence in the renewable energy market as it looks to reduce its reliance on oil services work. Oil and gas firms are cutting spending in response to the slump in commodity prices triggered by the coronavirus.

Machrihanish Airbase was bought by a local community company in 2012.