Is the Future of Hydrogen Energy in Scotland?

14 Jul 2025

By Morgan Opala, Solicitor, Corporate, Gilson Gray

Scotland has just taken a bold step toward the future of both aviation and energy. The announcement that a hydrogen aircraft fuel cell factory will be built at Glasgow’s Prestwick Airport, led by ZeroAvia, in collaboration with industry and government partners, is not only a technical breakthrough, it’s a strategic moment that could define Scotland’s role in the global energy transition.

Hydrogen has long been touted as a clean fuel of the future. But to date, its commercial applications have often been limited to prototypes or long-horizon infrastructure discussions. The fact that we will soon be manufacturing hydrogen-electric propulsion systems – with real certification and real aircraft orders – is proof that we’re now moving from hypotheticals and theories to action.

Beyond the Runway: What This Means for the Energy Sector

This development doesn’t just matter for aviation. It has implications across the energy landscape:

• Hydrogen demand is about to scale and fast. If aviation proves to be a viable hydrogen off-taker, it strengthens the investment case for green hydrogen producers across Scotland, particularly those tied to offshore wind hubs in the North East and Western Isles.
• Grid and infrastructure readiness must follow. Hydrogen production, storage, transport and integration into transport hubs (like airports and seaports) demands a new kind of legal and regulatory infrastructure. We’re talking about planning law, land access, environmental impact, and licensing that has never been tested at this scale or speed.
• Scotland is becoming a proving ground. The Scottish Government’s commitment to net-zero is more than policy. It’s becoming place-based industrial strategy. From Grangemouth to the Highlands, our regions are evolving into focal points for hydrogen clusters. Prestwick is now on that map.

The Role of Legal and Regulatory Stewardship

The role of a lawyer in the energy sector is ever-expanding. It has never been just about drafting contracts or ensuring compliance. It’s about helping clients navigate unknowns: technologies without precedent, regulations that don’t yet exist, and partnerships that span public, private, and international borders.

Clients increasingly require advice that touches multiple domains:

• State aid and funding strategy. Given the £60m+ of public capital being invested in these ventures.
• Cross-sector infrastructure agreements, especially where hydrogen supply intersects with airports, utilities, or rail.
• Long-term risk allocation in uncertain markets where hydrogen pricing and offtake are still maturing.

In other words, the legal framework must evolve just as quickly as the technology.

A Chance to Lead If We’re Ready

Scotland has a legitimate opportunity to lead the global hydrogen transition, not just in technology, but in governance, safety, financing, and industrial capability.

We should embrace this not with passive optimism, but with proactive coordination: between legal experts, engineers, government regulators, and the communities affected.

Let Prestwick be the beginning of what a zero-carbon future can look like when energy, transport, and innovation policy align.

For more information on any of the points raised in this article, reach out to a member of our Energy team today.

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