A HUNDRED new jobs are expected to be created as the Scottish Government announces a £3.1 million cash injection into green developments for the whisky industry in Moray.
The funding is part of proposed plans to develop a green hydrogen hub in Speyside where water will be split into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable energy and can be used for fuel for transportation, commercial and industrial heat or stored to meet future demand.
Green hydrogen produced at the site will provide fuel and energy for over 40 industrial sites across the region including whisky distillers and distiller hauliers.
The energy produced can be used for fuel for transportation, commercial and industrial heat or stored to meet future demand.
The project is expected to save around 190,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year and is the equivalent of taking around 135,000 cars off roads in Scotland.
Acting Energy Secretary Gillian Martin has welcomed the prospect of creating a hundred jobs in the area due to the funding as the government recognises the important role the whisky industry plays in Scotland.
She said: “This Scottish Government funding will support the construction of a new hub in Speyside, creating job opportunities for a hundred people in the local area.
“The hub will also support decarbonisation of Scotland’s iconic whisky industry, which currently relies on energy intensive production techniques – by creating clean energy and heat used for distilling and fuel for transportation.
“There is significant potential for the development of green hydrogen production in Scotland, due to our capability to generate so much renewable energy from offshore wind – crucial to the process of making green hydrogen.
“And as we continue with our transition to net zero, green hydrogen will play an increasingly important role within industry as organisations further decarbonise their operations and support Scotland’s transition to net zero.”
The Scottish Government’s funding will be matched by green firm Storegga bringing the amount invested into the project to £6.2m.
The project will bring the total of the Scottish Government’s Hydrogen Innovation Scheme, which has supported 31 projects across the country since 2022, to almost £7m invested.
Tim Stedman, Storegga’s CEO, also welcomed the funding as he said decarbonising the whisky industry should be a top priority for the Scottish Government.
He said: “Storegga is thrilled to be leading the development of the green hydrogen hub in Speyside, a project that marks a crucial step in Scotland’s energy transition.
“We are deeply grateful to the Scottish Government for their support which is instrumental in bringing this vision to life. This initiative highlights the importance of government and industry working together to achieve our shared net-zero goals.
“By harnessing Scotland’s rich renewable energy resources, we can significantly reduce carbon emissions and support the decarbonisation of Scotland's iconic whisky industry.
“We are also committed to engaging with the local community through ongoing public consultations, ensuring that this project benefits both the region and its residents. Collaboration like this is essential to driving sustainable industrial practices and creating high-quality jobs that will benefit the region for years to come.”
