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.
READ MORE: Electric 'super highway' between Scotland and England given go-ahead
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.”
(Image: Shutterstock)
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.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel