Scotland Sees Future in Green Hydrogen Exports to Germany
Scotland’s Energy Minister, Gillian Martin, recently announced the country’s plan to produce more electricity than it consumes, with the surplus to be converted into green hydrogen for export to Germany. The minister claimed that the green hydrogen could meet a significant portion of Germany’s demand by 2030.
Initially, the hydrogen is set to be transported by ship, with the possibility of a pipeline connecting Scotland to North England and then to Germany. A study commissioned by the Net Zero Technology Centers in Aberdeen estimates the pipeline could cost around £3.1 billion, with the endpoint in Emden, Lower Saxony, Germany.
However, the Scottish Energy Minister noted that the construction of a pipeline would require significant investment, which no single country could undertake. She expressed optimism that the project could move forward, citing the change in the British government in London, where the Labour party has replaced the Conservatives and is moving closer to the EU. The minister emphasized the need for political will to drive the project forward, looking to London and Brussels for support.