Speyside Hydrogen project launches second consultation for Scotch whisky industry – Scottish Business News

Storegga, a leading independent developer of low-carbon solutions, has launched the second public consultation for its Speyside Hydrogen project, a pioneering green hydrogen facility planned for Moray, Scotland.

This four-week consultation opens today and invites local community members and stakeholders to provide feedback on the latest project plans, shaped by insights gathered in the first consultation phase held in August.

As part of this consultation, a drop-in event will be held at Fleming Hall in Aberlour on November 28th from 12 pm to 7 pm, allowing the public to meet the project team, ask questions, and see firsthand how previous feedback has influenced the current plans.

Speyside Hydrogen is poised to play a pivotal role in reducing the carbon footprint of Moray’s iconic whisky distilleries. Producing up to 25 tonnes of electrolytic green hydrogen per day, the facility is expected to supply clean energy to local distilleries.

This will help the industry reduce its CO₂ emissions by 50,000 tonnes per year, safeguarding jobs in the sector and supporting Scotland’s national target for a carbon-neutral whisky industry by 2040.

Scotland’s whisky industry, which supports 41,000 jobs and contributes £7.1 billion to the UK economy, is highly energy-intensive, emitting over 475,000 tonnes of CO₂ in 2022.

Recognised by the Scottish Government as a key clean energy solution, green hydrogen offers a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, helping distilleries reduce their environmental impact without compromising production.

“We are grateful for the valuable input we received from the Moray community during the first phase of our consultation,” said Christina Smitton, Speyside Hydrogen Opportunity Manager at Storegga.

“This project will not only generate clean energy but aims to create a lasting positive legacy for the community. In this second phase of consultation, we are committed to demonstrating how we have incorporated community feedback, showcasing

the benefits of reduced emissions and the potential employment opportunities and addressing any concerns.”

Earlier this year, Storegga submitted a Proposal of Application Notice (PoAN) to Moray Council, a significant milestone in the project’s development.

It is expected that a detailed planning application, incorporating feedback from both consultation phases, will be submitted in January 2025.

For more information about Speyside Hydrogen or the upcoming consultation event, please visit https://storegga.earth/.