Scotland's only HAR1 hydrogen project provides blueprint for future hydrogen developments

A multidisciplinary team of businesses has secured consent for the Cromarty Green Hydrogen Production Facility (CGHPF), Scotland’s only scheme with a contract for difference, supported through the UK government’s first Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR1). The 15 MW development is expected to save 13,002 tonnes of carbon emissions annually and support 126 jobs across construction and operation, securing approximately 30 highly skilled long term roles.

The Cromarty Project is being developed by Protium 12 km north of Alness, next to the operational Beinn Tharsuinn Wind Farm. It will use local renewable energy to produce clean fuel for Highland industry, Cromarty will decarbonise off-grid generators, heavy transport, and regional industry across the Highlands and Aberdeenshire,

The project demonstrates how commercial-scale green hydrogen developments can navigate evolving policy and regulatory requirements while managing complex issues including renewable power continuity, water supply, peatland protection, ecology, landscape and transport.

RSK Environment led the five-year planning, environmental and consenting programme, bringing together specialist expertise from seven RSK businesses: Headland Archaeology, WRc, Stephenson Halliday, RSK Acoustics, SCP, RSK DGS and Envireau. The team supported the project through changes in ownership, design development and requests for additional information from consultees. Independent consultancy Avian Ecology also contributed to environmental assessment work and provided specialist ecology and ornithology support.

RSK Environment Principal Consultant Adam Paterson said: “Securing consent for a project of this scale is a significant achievement and an important step towards developing green hydrogen infrastructure in Scotland. The project will help to decarbonise Scotland’s whisky sector while supporting the growth of a new clean-energy industry in the Highlands.

“Hydrogen developments sit within an evolving policy and regulatory environment, so bringing together planning, environmental, ecological and technical specialists was critical to achieving a successful outcome. This project shows how integrated multidisciplinary support can help complex low-carbon energy projects progress from concept to consent. It also shows how established electrolysis technology can be adapted for a challenging rural location while meeting demanding environmental and planning requirements. The lessons learned through the consenting process will be relevant to other hydrogen developments across the UK as the sector continues to grow.”

He added: “Through careful site selection, design development and proactive engagement with stakeholders, the team minimised potential environmental effects, addressed concerns associated with a novel technology in a rural setting and delivered a robust planning application that supports national and local climate change targets/net zero targets and socio-economic objectives. RSK Environment also worked with the client’s project team and appointed engineers to ensure a holistic approach.

“Over the course of the pre-application and determination process, RSK coordinated the completion of baseline surveys, public events and meetings with community councils. It also managed correspondence and meetings with statutory consultees including the Highland Council, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and NatureScot, and submitted the environmental appraisal and planning documents, including amendments and additional information as project parameters evolved.

“The team, of up to 30 at times, worked together to resolve interdependent issues covering power, water, peat, ecology, landscape and transport while retaining the project’s carbon, employment and biodiversity benefits. Securing consent is an important step towards delivering green hydrogen for Highland industry.”

Adam explained that the desk-based studies and surveys helped the team to understand baseline conditions relating to habitats and protected species. The consent includes peatland restoration, heathland enhancement, riparian woodland creation, protected-species safeguards and long-term habitat management. Planning officers, NatureScot, SEPA and the Highland Council concluded that, subject to conditions, the biodiversity compensation and enhancement measures would leave the wider area in a demonstrably better ecological condition than it started in, and would comply with national biodiversity policy.

Most hydrogen production today is predominantly based on natural gas, whereas green hydrogen is produced using renewable electricity, helping to reduce emissions from industrial processes and hard-to-decarbonise sectors.

The consented scheme is expected to deliver:

• a 15 MW green hydrogen production facility for Highland industry
• 6480 kg of hydrogen fuel produced daily
• estimated annual carbon savings of 13,002 tonnes
• 87 construction-related jobs (57 direct and 30 indirect)
• 30 operational and transport-related roles
• investment in roads and local supply chains, biodiversity enhancement and peatland restoration.
• a community benefits scheme which includes direct financial and strategic investment aligned to the socio-economic and environmental priorities of the region.

Construction is expected to begin in 2027 and take about 18 months, with the facility expected to become operational in 2029.

Protium Head of Projects, Nick Hayward, said: “Cromarty is the first major step for our Scottish Hydrogen Hub. It proves that UK-backed green hydrogen projects can move quickly from acquisition to consent when you have the right fundamentals and team in place.

“Finding the ideal location was a challenge – it needed to make complete sense technically, commercially, and for the local community and environment. Bringing this vision to life relied on a true multidisciplinary effort, drawing on the deep knowledge of local planning and environmental experts across the region. RSK and the wider team were essential in securing planning permission, and getting this across the line is a huge credit to their diligence and the genuine, lasting relationships built with key stakeholders.”