Ahead of The King’s Speech on July 17 and to kickstart their engagement with MPs following the General Election, Scottish Renewables has outlined ten priorities for the UK Government’s first 100 days to accelerate economic growth and reduce energy costs. You can watch a summary of these ten priorities on LinkedIn.

Scottish Renewables has also written to the Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net-Zero to outline the benefits for the UK’s economy and energy security by uplifting the Allocation Round 6 (AR6) budget as part of a signal of confidence to our supply chain.

The open letter, signed by 67 organisations representing 20,000 jobs, featured in an exclusive by The Herald and has been shared with relevant Ministerial teams across the UK Government. In addition, Scottish Renewables has signed a letter by RenewableUK to the Chancellor of the Exchequer advocating for an uplift to the AR6 budget.

Scottish Renewables has began our programme of engagement with new Ministers, Scotland’s 57 MPs and parliamentary staff to highlight the priorities of the renewable energy industry and supply chain. Key junior Ministerial appointments include:

• Michael Shanks MP (Rutherglen and Hamilton West): Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net-Zero.
• Sarah Jones MP (Croydon Central): Minister of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net-Zero and the Department for Business and Trade.
• Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP (Lothian East): Minister of State in the Department for Business and Trade.
• Kirsty McNeill MP (Midlothian): Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland.

Scottish Renewables welcomes the establishment of a Mission Control for Clean Power, led by Chris Stark, to support effective cross-governmental action towards 2030 targets. The new Mission Control will work alongside the Clean Energy Mission Board, chaired by the Prime Minister, as well as the development of GB Energy and the National Wealth Fund.

Environmentally-conscious timber products supplier GMG Energy has joined forces with a respected specialist building company in a strategic partnership which is likely to significantly boost growth in both concerns.

The Highland-based sawmill operator and biomass supplier is teaming up with long-established Lanarkshire construction company Hendry Joinery and Builders to supply and install bespoke garden rooms and home offices across Scotland.

The move is designed to benefit from the continuing strong demand for outdoor space which was sparked by lockdown and is now being sustained by the huge numbers of people – estimated by the ONS at up to 40% – who still work part of the week from home.

The new partnership will be launched at the Caithness Show in Thurso East on the 19^th and 20^th of July this year. Under the terms of the deal, wood will be supplied from GMG’s eco-friendly plant in the Strath of Halladale in Sutherland, which is powered by a massive solar array on the roof, and Hendry will cut the timber to size to create and install the individually-crafted units.

Malcolm Morrison, Director of GMG Energy, said: “I was inspired to investigate the possibility of a partnership when Kirk Hendry, the owner of Hendry Builders, and his team built a remarkably useful and aesthetically pleasing home office in my own garden.

“The craftsmanship and the quality of work was quite outstanding and the custom-built structure has added value and flexibility to the property, as well as being brought in on time and on budget.

“There is a huge market for this kind of structure, with sector predicting a rise in sales of up to 10% this year. Suppliers are also increasingly focusing on sustainability, using eco-friendly materials and incorporating energy-efficient features, which is a perfect fit with the way we operate.”

Kirk Hendry, who has been in the construction industry for 41 years, said from his base in Strathaven: “We have undertaken a wide variety of work this year, including building two houses, a garden house and a dental surgery, but we see a great scope for growth in the demand for outdoor work and living space.

“The alliance with GMG Energy chimes with customer demand for environmentally-aligned products, since Malcolm has invested heavily in renewables and also specialises in ethically sourced timber from its own sustainable resources.”

GMG Energy, which has a turnover in excess of £2 million, has spent £100,000 on solar power generation as well as £250,000 on equipment. It is a major contributor to the circular economy, using local suppliers and providing products with significantly fewer transport miles to local businesses. It processes 2,000 tons of timber annually.

As a major plank of its business model, the company is committed to replacing every log of timber that it uses, and plants 10,000 new trees a year, which grow to maturity in 35 years. It has far exceeded this target in recent years.

Hydrogen Scotland member Net Zero Technology Centre has just released the Energy Hubs – Fill the Backbone report. This study highlights the emerging opportunity to export hydrogen into the expanding hydrogen market in Europe. Economic modelling indicates that a 10 GW scale Energy Hub in Scotland producing green hydrogen from floating offshore wind could produce hydrogen for £3.90/kg. To capitalise on the opportunity, Scotland will need to develop strategic Energy Hubs in time to meet this growing demand.

This report finds that the key to establishing a thriving hydrogen economy in Scotland is the development of Energy Hubs. An Energy Hub is a specific geographic location which will host all facilities necessary for the large-scale production of hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives such as e-fuels. It focuses on how to optimise the efficiency and economic viability of Scottish Energy hubs, including the opportunities offered by alternative fuels, CO₂ imports and by-products.

Location assessments identified Cromarty, Shetland, Aberdeen & North-East, and Orkney to be optimal locations for green hydrogen production. A preliminary screening was performed to select five Energy Hubs for further detailed analysis of the current, future planned, and potential renewable generation capacity for each of the five selected hubs. The study results summarising the generation capacity that may be available for each Energy Hub location are depicted in Figure 7 below.

Figure 7: Generation capacity for each Energy Hub

With Scottish electricity demand being met predominantly by currently installed renewable capacity, there is an opportunity to use future (planned and potential) renewable capacity for alternative purposes, such as hydrogen generation. The analysis established the future (planned and potential) generation capacity for each energy vector at each of the five hubs. To avoid double counting, energy resources within a given area were uniquely allocated to individual hub locations. The results indicate that if all the future planned generation capacity for the areas covered by the five energy hubs is realised, then this could mean an annual surplus of 160 TWh. Realising renewable energy from sources classed as “potential” would add a further 150 TWh to the total. This incremental annual capacity is shown in Figure 8 below.

Figure 8: Incremental annual energy generation capacity for five Energy Hub locations

This Energy Hubs project builds on the findings of NZTC’s Hydrogen Backbone Link project report released in August 2023, which demonstrates the feasibility of exporting 0.9 million tonnes of hydrogen per year from Scotland to Europe via a new dedicated 10GW capacity hydrogen pipeline. The Energy Hub project evaluates the potential of utilising Scotland’s offshore wind resource to produce GW-scale low carbon hydrogen to supply the demand required by the proposed Hydrogen Backbone Link (HBL).

Phase one of this Scottish government funded Energy Hubs project also provides recommendations to achieve this ambition. It examines the infrastructure, long-term investment and technological innovations needed to establish commercially viable and efficient energy hubs across Scotland. Key recommendations include:

• Rapid investment targeted at next generation technologies and manufacturing processes to accelerate floating offshore wind
• Innovations in electrolyser technologies to improve the efficiency of hydrogen production while reducing system costs
• Development of highly efficient energy storage facilities with GWh capacities
• Optimising the integration of energy vectors within Energy Hubs, along with exploring further opportunities in alternative fuels and byproducts

The likely power supply for a multi-gigawatt scale hydrogen or e-fuel Energy Hub is floating wind. The cost of electricity from floating wind will have a significant impact on the commercial viability of the hydrogen produced in Energy Hubs. Economic modelling indicated that a 10 GW scale Energy Hub producing green hydrogen from floating offshore wind could produce hydrogen for £3.90/kg. The total CAPEX for a development (including both the wind farm and the hydrogen production facilities) was estimated to be £30.2 billion and would produce over 0.9 Mtpa of green hydrogen This modelling used forecasted costs for the late 2030s and anticipates that the cost of electricity from floating wind will decrease over time as the technology develops.

Energy storage for a 10 GW facility poses a significant challenge. For Scotland to be able to meet its own domestic hydrogen demand, sufficient hydrogen storage for lulls in production associated with low wind conditions is needed. The subject of energy storage capacity would benefit from further assessment (including cost benefit analysis) to determine the sensitivity of hydrogen production rates (and electrolyser life) to varying levels of energy storage capacity.

Scotland’s proximity to the European market and the Hydrogen backbone link project will enable low transportation costs, but if production costs are too high then this strategic benefit will be negated. To enable Scotland to leverage its vast renewable resource and fully capitalise on future export opportunities, action is required across four key areas:

• Development of the Super Hub concept to maximise the overall performance of Energy Hubs. The Super Hub concept is being explored in more detail in Phase 2 of the Energy Hubs Project, which will conclude in November 2025.
• Investment and Government support to accelerate the development of key technologies, in particular, investment targeted at floating offshore wind is needed to ensure the competitiveness of Scottish green hydrogen.
• Development of high efficiency energy storage facilities with GWh capacities.
• System integration: Optimising the integration of energy vectors (including thermal) within Energy Hubs, along with exploring further opportunities in alternative fuels and byproducts is needed to ensure the efficiency and economic viability of Energy Hubs. This is being explored in more detail in Phase 2 of the Energy Hubs Project.

The Energy Hubs project is dedicated to advancing the Energy Hub concept by addressing the fundamental questions that emerge when considering how to establish large-scale hydrogen production in Scotland. The Energy Hubs project is one of seven projects being delivered through NZTC’s Net Zero Technology Transition Programme (NZTTP), which was awarded £16.7 million from the Scottish Government’s Energy Transition Fund (ETF). The Energy Hub project is funded over a three-year period and will conclude in November 2025.

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Hydrogen Valleys are geographical areas where clean hydrogen is produced and locally used by households, local transportation and industrial plants. Hydrogen Valleys are the cornerstones of a viable hydrogen economy and are listed on the Mission Innovation Hydrogen Valley Platform that was launched in 2021, with 21 valleys in Europe. The counter currently stands at 98 valleys globally with 67 located in the EU. Out of the European Hydrogen Valleys, 17 have received support from the EU research and innovation programmes totalling EUR 262 million.

Mission Innovation map of Hydrogen Valleys (from https://h2v.eu/hydrogen-valleys)

The European Commission published Towards a roadmap for accelerating the deployment of Hydrogen Valleys across Europe: challenges and opportunities. This is a working document which outlines the strategic priorities and actions that are currently ongoing or planned to support the development of Hydrogen Valleys:

• The Commission will support a ‘Hydrogen Valley Facility’ through the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, a public-private partnership under Horizon Europe, to help early-stage Hydrogen Valleys mature to the point where they can start construction.
• Building on the recently relaunched European Hydrogen Observatory, a new Clean Hydrogen Knowledge Hub will provide stakeholders with the information they require, allowing for automated data analysis and reporting to support knowledge-based decision making.
• Following the recent revision of the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan, the Commission will work closely with Member States and stakeholders to implement the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) of the ERA Pilot on Green Hydrogen.
• The Commission has approved four successive waves of hydrogen Integrated Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs).
• Together, these initiatives aim to raise over EUR 43 billion from a blend of public and private funds, supporting more than 120 projects involving nearly 100 European companies.
• A European Hydrogen Academy has been launched in January 2024, with an EU contribution of EUR 3 million. The European Commission intends to transform it into a European Net-Zero Industry Academy as announced in the Net-Zero Industry Act, providing a broad portfolio of education, training and reskilling.
• The Commission will intensify the cooperation with international partners on clean hydrogen deployment and the development of hydrogen markets, in particular through the Clean Hydrogen Mission under Mission Innovation.
• REPowerEU, the EU scheme aiming to reduce Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels, has topped up the contribution from Horizon Europe to the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking with EUR 200 million to accelerate the roll-out of Hydrogen Valleys across Europe. The additional EUR 200 million invested by the Commission in the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking is being used to boost the support to Hydrogen Valleys across Europe.

The proposed ‘Hydrogen Valley Facility’ is aimed at accelerating the number of Hydrogen Valleys in Europe. The facility, funded through Horizon Europe and implemented by the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, will include project development assistance to support Hydrogen Valleys at various levels of maturity. Whilst the focus will be on EU Members States and countries associated to Horizon Europe, such project development assistance may inform also the support to renewable hydrogen development in partner countries. In addition, it will include activities aiming to ensure that the knowledge gathered, and the lessons learnt from Hydrogen Valleys (including skills) are retained, collected, analysed and widely disseminated and used in a structured and efficient way. The Facility will also be used to maintain and update the Hydrogen Valley Platform.

The working document highlights the need for training and education are to increase the number of skilled people to realise the development of the Hydrogen Valleys, including for regulators and local administrations implementing permitting rules. As part of the policy priorities of the Pact for Skills, the new European Hydrogen Academy has been set up, coordinated by the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague. It will last for 54 months, having kicked-off last January 2024, and funded with an EU contribution of EUR 3 million from Horizon Europe. The consortium counts with 17 members and the project focuses on 200 occupational projects, aiming to produce university-type courses, facilitate the reskilling and upskilling of workers and create a network of schools and higher education institutions. National initiatives are also being set up to train workforce or scholars in the field of hydrogen technology.

While originally being a European research and innovation concept, Hydrogen Valleys are now spreading across the globe. The Clean Hydrogen Mission under Mission Innovation is a global cooperation forum for interested governments and that is co-led by the Commission, and has set the target of developing 100 Hydrogen Valleys across the globe by 2030. Given the closer interlink with deployment, they could be developed in cooperation with the Clean Energy Ministerial H2 initiative. As the global hydrogen market develops, it will be important to connect Hydrogen Valleys. Cooperation on Hydrogen Valleys outside the EU may take place with international partners on renewable hydrogen deployment and the development of hydrogen markets, in accordance with the EU policy priorities and legislation.

View Hydrogen Valleys working document here.

The Hydrogen Electric Integrated Drivetrain Initiative (HEIDI) £12.7m APC project led by Hydrogen Scotland member Bramble Energy has reached a significant milestone with the completion of concept designs for the hydrogen system and double-decker bus and is now moving into the manufacturing phase.

Early testing of the Bramble Energy fuel cell stack shows promising results for power output at bus level, paving the way for this innovative fuel cell design to be used in heavy duty transport applications. Bramble’s flexible fuel cell design has allowed the bus to maintain a capacity of 86 passengers, similar to current London double-deckers, without compromising service for system installation.

Dr. Vidal Bharath, CCO at Bramble Energy commented: “This new milestone for HEIDI brings us one step closer to revolutionising public transport with our innovative PCBFC™ technology providing a viable path to net-zero emissions for commercial vehicles. The ability to maintain passenger capacity whilst achieving significant range and rapid refuelling times showcases the practicality and scalability of our solution.”

Simulations carried out by Hydrogen Scotland member the University of Bath predict a range of up to 280 miles on UK bus routes using 350 bar hydrogen. This surpasses the typical daily distance of London buses (100-200 miles) and offers refuelling times similar to diesel or petrol alternatives (around 8 minutes). Bramble Energy, with its partners, will now move into the next phase of HEIDI, manufacturing key components, including the fuel cell stack, fuel cell system, and hydrogen storage.

Bramble Energy is the lead partner of the HEIDI project which has received £6.3m funding from the Advanced Propulsion Centre, matched by industry to £12.7m. The UK-based consortium is developing a hydrogen-powered double-deck bus, using a first-of-its-kind fuel cell technology from Bramble Energy together with Aeristech’s high efficiency air compressor, and Equipmake’s motor power electronics and battery management system. The powertrain is being optimised through vehicle simulations carried out by the University of Bath.

Bramble PCBFC™ stacks optimised to fit available space (credit Bramble Energy)

The Bramble PCBFC™ fuel cell stacks can be produced in almost any size and arrangement according to the end customer’s needs. The result is an unparalleled cost-effective solution to supporting and accelerating the decarbonisation of public transport and to improve air quality in towns and cities around the world.

Bramble Energy was selected for this fuel cell bus project due to its revolutionised fuel cell design and manufacturing process. Using a patented-protected printed circuit board technology, it can create bespoke fuel cell stacks in a matter of days at scale and low-cost. Bramble’s PCB technology eliminates the requirement for a number of complex and costly components found in a typical electrochemical stack, which not only simplifies the supply chain but also does not require vast retooling for manufacture.

Dr Vidal Bharath, CCO at Bramble Energy added: “Fuel cell technology can deliver a viable net zero solution that lends itself to commercial vehicles where downtime needs to be limited. This consortium of partners means that we will be able to deliver a world-leading hybridized powertrain, utilising our innovative low cost PCBFC™ technology for the bus sector, where there needs to be a viable electrified solution that can deliver on cost and scalability.”

Automated production for high volume and low assembly costs (credit Bramble Energy)

The significant reduction in the cost of automotive fuel cells – by 70% since 2008 – mirrors the strides made by pioneering technology companies such as Bramble Energy and the wider industry towards more efficient and scalable production processes. This evolution from capital-intensive and slow production cycles to more economical and faster production methods enhances the viability of fuel cell technology. Bramble Energy has developed their unique printed circuit board (PCB) fuel cell – the PCBFC™ which can be manufactured in almost all printed circuit board (PCB) factories worldwide.

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HIAL Procurement Tenders for 2024

Between June and October 2024, 31 contracts for maintenance work at airports across the Highlands and Islands will be available for businesses to tender for, including Wick John O’Groats.

The contracts, with values of between £50k and £15 million include a range of services to support HIAL airports across a number of locations. A full list of the contracts and values is available by clicking here. Further information can also be found on the HIAL website by clicking here.

HIAL is encouraging all businesses with the skills and experience to apply for the contracts through the open tender process, with Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing at Barra, Campbeltown, Islay and Tiree competed through the invitation to quote process.

HIAL is committed to promoting and enabling sustainability outcomes to benefit not only HIAL but also society and supporting local economies while minimising damage to the environment. HIAL will be looking to ensure that bidders can provide sustainable benefits whilst also ensuring that response times are met to keep our airports operational.

Interested businesses must:

• Register as a supplier on Public Contracts Scotland (www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk)
• Note their interest by emailing procurement@hial.co.uk
• Attend the Information session on MS Teams.
• Wait to receive notification of tender opportunity via Public Contracts Scotland.

Information to inform and support businesses through the tender process is available to help as many companies as possible to participate. An online information session about the 31 contract opportunities has been organised and full details of this session is included within the PINs.

A video has been produced to help guide businesses through the process – click here to view.

Head of Procurement at HIAL, Sarah Shelley said, “These contracts are a fantastic opportunity for businesses to work with HIAL to provide day to day, routine and reactive maintenance services across our airports. We would encourage any company, small or large, to register their interest as a potential supplier and tender for relevant contracts as they become available on the Public Contracts Scotland website.”

More details are available by emailing procurement@hial.co.uk

GMG Energy, the rapidly expanding Highland timber products specialist which contributes significantly to the circular economy in the Highlands and the Northern Isles, has lent its support to the Royal Highland Educational Trust’s (RHET) first online Meet the Lambs initiative aimed primarily at early years schoolchildren throughout the Highlands and Islands.

The RHET “Year of Sheep” campaign, supported by the Royal Northern Countryside Initiative (RNIC) has developed a range of teaching resources for use in schools aimed at educating children about food production in Scotland and the contribution made by farmers to the countryside.

Over four days, from 22 to 26 April, over 6000 youngsters from 257 schools met lambs online from five different farms across the region and had plenty of opportunity to ask questions.

Malcolm Morrison, Director of Halladale-based GMG Energy said: “As both a sheep farmer and business owner, I wanted to provide financial support to this RHET initiative since in my view it is important to give our young people an enjoyable opportunity to really understand how the rural community contributes to the welfare of us all.”

Fran Matheson, RHET Highland said: “It is so important we bring the farming story into the classroom and touch on talking points like animal welfare, the sustainable uses of wool, and cover off even the questions you just don’t expect from a young audience.

“Many of the Year of Sheep Farm Visits in the 2023/2024 school term would not have been possible without the support of our supporters like GMG Energy, NFU Mutual, QMS and many other agricultural businesses who have given generously and in kind.”

GMG Energy, the rapidly expanding Highland timber products specialist which contributes significantly to the circular economy in the Highlands and the Northern Isles, has recently invested £150,000 in state-of-the-art sawmill equipment which takes its larger timber and processes it into posts, rail, cladding and purlins, or structural roof members.

As a major plank of its business model, the company is committed to replacing every log of timber that it uses, and plants 10,000 new trees a year, which grow to maturity in 35 years. It far exceeded this target in 2021, planting in the region of 20,000 trees.

Norscot Joinery Ltd, a leading provider of high-quality timber frame kits, windows, and doors in the Highlands, is proud to announce a new charity partnership with Maggie’s, a renowned organisation dedicated to providing free cancer support and information to people living with cancer.

This partnership signifies a commitment by Norscot to give back to the community and support a cause that touches many lives. Over the next year, Norscot will be supporting Maggie’s through fundraising initiatives, volunteer efforts, and raising awareness of the exceptional cancer support services they provide.

To kick off this year’s donations, Norscot is thrilled to contribute £500, providing essential funding for a Cancer Specialist to listen, answer questions and guide people to the right information at the centre. Additionally, Norscot team members will participate in the ‘Paws for a Cause’ fundraising event in July, where they will aim to walk 60km, with or without their dogs, donating £1 for each kilometre walked. Prizes will be awarded to the Top Walker and the Best Furry Companion!

Jason Fraser, General Manager at Norscot comments:

“We are proud to partner with Maggie’s for the coming year. The work they do is incredibly important, and we are committed to supporting their mission in every way we can. This partnership reflects our values and dedication to making a positive impact in our community.”

Seonaid Green, Maggie’s Highlands Centre Head said:  “We are delighted to have been chosen as Norscot’s charity partner and so grateful to them for everything they have already done to help us provide vital psychological and emotional support to people living with cancer, as well as family and friends, across the whole of the Highlands. As a charity, the majority of our funding comes from voluntary donations so this kind of support is invaluable and we look forward to welcoming the Norscot team to our centre.”

Maggie’s offers free expert psychological, practical and emotional support to people with cancer and their families and friends in the Highlands through its centre at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness and its other centres across the UK. Their network of warm and welcoming centres provides a full programme of support that has been shown to help people live better with cancer.

For 40 years Norscot has been manufacturing superior quality Timber Frame Kit Homes and replacement, made-to-measure windows and doors from its state-of-the-art factory and showroom in Bower, Caithness. It also owns a purpose-built showroom, sales office and storage facility on the Carse Industrial Estate in Inverness.

With the need for culture organisations to diversify and expand their skills more acute than ever, Culture & Business Scotland have unveiled a series of training opportunities and events designed to help the nation’s creative professionals equip themselves with new knowledge.

The charity, which works to facilitate mutually beneficial connections between the culture and business sectors, will host a series of upcoming events giving organisations well-rounded education in a range of subjects including fundraising through storytelling, legacy giving and the principles of board membership.

Next week, a short course on board membership taking place on Tuesday 4th June will give new trustees and board members access to two informative, hands-on sessions introducing them to their new roles and responsibilities.

On Tuesday 4th and Tuesday 11th June two sessions will explore the five stages of the copywriting process, while additional training courses will help participants to deeper their understanding of corporate sponsorship and discover the benefits and possibilities of legacy giving campaigns.

Along with full-length courses, Culture & Business Scotland run a series of Insights Webinars designed to empower individuals and organisations in the culture sector with knowledge and expertise from industry experts, and networking events, allowing attendees the chance to connect and collaborate with like-minded professionals in the culture sector.

David Watt, Chief Executive of Culture & Business Scotland said: ‘Our programme of events is designed to help both members and non-members to expand their skillsets and knowledge and empower them to feel confident in all aspects of their work. Thanks to expert guidance and structured, practical sessions, participants will gain a solid foundation in skills that are crucial in the evolving landscape of Scotland’s culture environment’.

Individuals and organisations interested in attending an event can find further information here: https://www.cultureandbusiness.scot/training-events/