SUPERGLASS has entered into a strategic partnership with Carlton Power to supply it with green hydrogen for its manufacturing facility in Stirling.
The Stirling Green Hydrogen scheme is Carlton Power’s first development in Scotland. Subject to planning and final designs, it will be similar to the firm’s three other hydrogen projects which were shortlisted by the UK Government to receive financial support through its hydrogen business model/net zero hydrogen fund.
Carlton Power is an independent energy infrastructure development company with offices in Edinburgh and Stokesley. Its Stirling Green Hydrogen scheme will provide Superglass and potentially other energy-intensive users in the area (for example, those with transport fleets) with hydrogen to fuel their operations.
The firm said that secured demand for hydrogen at Stirling will underpin the initial development of a 10MW (megawatt) electrolyser, expected to produce approximately 1,000 tonnes of green hydrogen every year – reducing 7,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions which is equivalent to taking c160 trucks off Scotland’s roads every year.
Carlton Power anticipates hydrogen demand in the area to increase ‘significantly’ in the near term and will develop the project in such a way that additional capacity can be added. The hydrogen will be produced by an electrolyser using electricity that is generated from sources of renewable energy, primarily wind and solar power.
The scheme is to be located at Polmaise, close to Superglass’ manufacturing plant at the Thistle Industrial Estate in Stirling. The Superglass plant, which completed a £37 million upgrade in 2019, produces around 60,000 tonnes of glass wool insulation annually and employs 200 people.
The scheme, subject to planning and financing, will see sustainable hydrogen fuel being produced at scale, creating opportunities for businesses in Stirling and the surrounding area to make net zero plans with hydrogen in mind. The hydrogen hub facility will support the growth of renewable electricity generation by utilising it to produce and store hydrogen at times when renewable output is high, but demand is low.
Eric Adams, hydrogen projects director at Carlton Power, said, “We’re delighted to be working with Superglass to bring forward our Stirling Green Hydrogen hub; it will help Superglass achieve its sustainability goals and support Scotland’s decarbonisation strategy. It is critical that projects such as this are brought forward to support investment by local companies in their operations that can reduce their carbon emissions.”
Theresa McLean, chief executive of Superglass, added, “Carlton Power’s experience in hydrogen and wider energy project development in the UK is first-class, and so we are very pleased to be working with them to develop the Stirling scheme.
“Superglass’s operations are already very energy efficient – our glass wool insulation is made from up to 84% recycled glass and is estimated to save around 300 times the amount of energy used to manufacture it – but we know that we must do more.
“We need to make the transition from fossil-based fuels to hydrogen in order to cut our carbon emissions. The Stirling Green Hydrogen scheme will be an important step forward for not only our company, but the community in which we operate.”
