The Net Zero Technology Centre and ERM have announced the launch of the Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC) for hydrogen transport from Scotland (LHyTS) project, which will export of hydrogen from Scotland to Rotterdam.
The LHyTS project seeks to demonstrate that LOHC, in the form of methylcyclohexane (MCH), can be transported at scale, providing an export route to the Port of Rotterdam and other European destinations.
The project will be delivered by a consortium including Axens, Chiyoda, EnQuest, ERM, Koole Terminals, Port of Rotterdam, Scottish Government, Shetland Islands Council, Storegga and the Net Zero Technology Centre. The partners will work together undertaking engineering studies to develop a pilot project as a precursor to large-scale export.
The project aligns with Scottish Government’s Hydrogen Policy Statement, which aims to deliver 5GW of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen production by 2030 and 25GW by 2045. The global ambition has also been established, with The European Commission targeting 10 million tons of hydrogen to be imported by 2030.
The Port of Rotterdam already imports 13% of Europe’s energy and has ambitions to become the hydrogen hub of Europe. To achieve this, the port will draw on its import, export and storage infrastructure, established energy industry supply chain and pipeline connections to other industrial clusters in north west Europe.
Hayleigh Barnett, project manager at the Net Zero Technology Centre, said: “The main challenge in exporting hydrogen is choosing the best means of transportation.
“Early stage studies in this project have concluded that LOHC has several advantages over other carrier forms, such as ammonia, methanol or liquid hydrogen - conducting an industrial scale trial is an exciting step in making LOHC export a reality."
René van de Plas, international director of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, commented: “Scotland is extremely fit for the production of green hydrogen, because of its abundance of wind and the demand at the continent nearby.
“On top of that, the area is one of the heartlands of the oil and energy sector - that ecosystem of knowledge, infrastructure and companies will help to kickstart the hydrogen economy.”
Paul Massie, director of corporate development and new energy at EnQuest, stated: “EnQuest is committed to building a new energy hub at Sullom Voe in Shetland which will produce a million tonnes of green hydrogen a year, so with hydrogen a key part of our future plans, we are pleased to participate in this important study.“
Sarah Potts, head of hydrogen at Storegga, added: “The north east of Scotland is playing an important role in developing the huge potential of hydrogen in the UK and Storegga is right at the heart of those efforts, with our Acorn Hydrogen project at St. Fergus and our Cromarty Green Hydrogen Project north of Inverness.
“We are so pleased to be collaborating on this study with so many other organisations who are also striving to develop a thriving hydrogen industry.”
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