04 Nov 2024
The recent inbound trade mission from Germany to Scotland, organised by the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce in partnership with AHP International, marked a significant step forward in the green hydrogen sector. Part of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action’s (BMWK) Market Entry Programme for SMEs (MEP), the week-long event connected German businesses with opportunities in Scotland's green hydrogen landscape. With support from Alexandra Stein, Hydrogen Envoy for Europe; Nigel Holmes, CEO of Hydrogen Scotland; and Murray Bainbridge, Head of Energy Transition at SDI and the British Chamber of Commerce in Germany, the mission strengthened the Scotland-Germany partnership in the push toward a green hydrogen-driven future.
Glasgow: A Hub for Hydrogen Innovation
Glasgow, as a leader in Scotland’s energy transition, was the ideal setting for this mission. The delegation began at the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, where the German delegates were introduced to Scotland’s hydrogen ambitions. The main networking event of the week was held at Merchants House, which was attended by over 80 guests who heard presentations from the German delegates and networked with both visitors and locals alike. The networking event was rounded off with a keynote speech from Paul Wheelhouse and Helen Emberson, highlighting the extensive opportunities in the Scottish Borders related to the Chaplecross Project.
Glasgow’s strategic role was subsequently highlighted through site visits to key projects within Glasgow's catchment area, including Whitelee Windfarm and the innovative partnership between Auchentoshan Distillery and Marubeni Power.
Auchentoshan and Marubeni Power are collaborating on an exciting green hydrogen initiative that aims to decarbonize whisky production. By integrating hydrogen into its distillation process, Auchentoshan is exploring cleaner, more sustainable energy use. This project demonstrates how hydrogen can transform traditional industries—a concept that resonated with the visiting German companies. Whitelee Windfarm, the UK’s largest onshore wind farm, will play a critical role in the development of Scotland’s green hydrogen sector. The Glasgow leg of the mission was rounded off by Dentons Law firm’s generous hospitality at an evening reception at their offices on George Square.
Scotland’s Potential in Green Hydrogen
Further to the activities in Glasgow and the surrounding area, the delegates also visited key hydrogen projects and stakeholders across Scotland. This included stops in Edinburgh, Dundee, and Aberdeen, where cutting-edge research and industrial projects are advancing the hydrogen economy.
The group visited the Port of Leith and its innovative hydrogen project with PlusZero and Waterwhelm’s wastewater-to-hydrogen facility at Seafield, showcasing the circular economy and pioneering applications for hydrogen in urban and industrial contexts in Edinburgh. The Edinburgh leg was rounded off by a site visit to Logan Energy and Flexergy’s facilities at Heriot-Watt, followed by an introduction to Heriot-Watt’s iNetZ global research institute, ahead of an excellent evening reception hosted by Addleshaw Goddard in their offices, where presentations from SGN and RWE were given.
In Dundee, delegates toured the Michelin Scotland Innovation Park, a key site for energy transition technologies, while in Aberdeen, the mission provided valuable insights into Scotland’s energy transition, with a focus on hydrogen and offshore wind projects. Notable highlights included the delegates’ visit to the Energy Transition Zone (ETZ), where the traveling party heard from some of the major players in the burgeoning industry, such as Hydrasun and the Port of Aberdeen. Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce also generously opened access to some of their key operational assets and gave a tour of the Cove Bay Hydrogen Refuelling Station, among the first of its kind in the UK.
The mission concluded with the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) generously hosting the major green hydrogen players from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, providing a comprehensive overview of all that Scotland has to offer with presentations from NZTC, Statera, Storegga, EMEC, Enquest/Veri Energy, and the Western Isles Hydrogen Project, covering hydrogen projects in Kintore, Cromarty Firth, Speyside, Orkney, and the Sullom Voe Terminal in the Shetland Islands.
A Bright Future for Collaboration
The trade mission successfully fostered new business opportunities, joint research possibilities, and potential investments in Scotland. For Glasgow, the mission solidified its position as a leader in green hydrogen and energy innovation. The collaborations formed during the mission promise to advance hydrogen technologies and projects that will benefit both Scotland and Germany as they drive the global energy transition forward.
