East Ayrshire Council has given the green light for one of the first off-grid hydrogen production facilities in the UK.
Officers approved an application by Knockshinnoch Green Hydrogen Ltd to build and operate the hydrogen facility near New Cumnock.
The development will include hydrogen production electrolysers, office space and substation, compressors and coolers, storage tanks and refuelling bays for exportation of hydrogen from the site.
The plant will produce around 160 tons of hydrogen each year, although one of the companies involved in the development, Hive Energy, have suggested that it could produce six tons per week, around 312 tons each year.
Planners noted that, while this is no upper limit to the production, the developer had stated that a maximum of two tons would be stored on site at any one time.
It’s expected that construction of the facility will take around three months.
The plan will see renewable energy from adjacent wind turbines used to create the hydrogen.
The report continued: “It is worth noting from the outset that hydrogen is a hazardous substance under the Control of Major Accident Hazard Regulations 2015 (COMAH) and could require hazardous substances consent.
“In this case, upon consultation with SEPA noted this did not indicate the COMAH thresholds would be exceeded for the proposed development to qualify for COMAH.
The site at present is largely a disused area of scrubland on top of hardstanding that has been left to re-vegetate naturally.
The proposed development would see the construction and operation of a hydrogen production facility, which would be powered by two turbines which already have planning permission on an adjacent site.
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