Stuart McKay, Head of Hydrogen Policy at the Scottish GovernmentThe ClimateXChange report on hydrogen as a storage medium was an important first step for us in developing our policy positions on energy storage and hydrogen
THE CHALLENGE
Scotland has an ambitious net zero target of 2045, five years earlier than the rest of the UK. They have enormous potential for renewable energy generation, but network constraints and energy storage challenges are concerns for realising the full potential.
Major forms of renewable energy such as wind and solar generate electricity intermittently.
However, a functional electricity grid needs to balance demand with supply, which creates problems in times of low renewable generation or high electricity demand. Using renewable electricity to produce hydrogen through electrolysis can reduce curtailment and enhance energy security. Hydrogen storage has been an emerging area of interest in Scotland.
THE SOLUTION
Gemserv was approached to build on previous hydrogen storage projects for Hydrogen UK and the Northwest Hydrogen Alliance. To aid Scottish hydrogen advancement, we:
- Combined previous research with stakeholder engagement to gather evidence.
- Interviewed academics, project developers and civil servants for energy and policy context.
- Delivered an accessible Plain English report using a seven-pillar framework.
THE IMPACT
Our recommendations were welcomed by the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise.
As a result, our report will:
- Inform policy decisions on hydrogen and electricity storage technologies.
- Serve as a starting point for future hydrogen research.
