Scotland is set to publish a hydrogen export plan after a report suggested the nation could meet anywhere between 22% and 100% of Germany’s hydrogen import volumes by 2045.
Commissioned by the Scottish Government, the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) and Cruh21 report explored supply and demand pathways as well as end-use, technologies, infrastructure and regulation required for the distribution of hydrogen.
It suggested Scottish hydrogen exports could meet 22-100% of Germany’s hydrogen import volumes by 2045, when Scotland aims to produce 25GW of renewable hydrogen.
Responding to the report, Scotland’s Secretary for Net Zero, Mairi McAllan, said the nation was “strongly positioned” to be a major hydrogen exporter to Northern Europe.
“We are determined to realise this opportunity and will shortly be publishing an export plan for this end,” McAllan remarked.
It comes after Berlin estimated 50-70% of its 95-130TWh hydrogen demand in 2030 could be met by imports.
Read more: Germany doubles domestic hydrogen production target to 10GW while planning import strategy
The report said up to 2030, import shares in Germany could vary between 0TWh and 46TWh, before scaling to 78-422TWh in 2045.
However, the report noted the need for comprehensive research, prioritising infrastructure investments, strengthening energy partnerships and reassessing export targets to align with evolving demand trends.
Ana Almeida, Senior Project Engineer at NZTC, warned, “There is a lack of tangible strategies connecting supply and demand and its evolution from present day to 2045, when both countries aim to achieve Net Zero carbon emission targets.”
Up to 2030, the report suggested ammonia would be the “most feasible” option to accelerate the set-up of hydrogen supply chains.
However, up until 20245, it expects technological advancements to lay the foundations for a comprehensive supply chain, seeing pipeline infrastructure carrying gaseous hydrogen, enhancements in ammonia use, potential liquid hydrogen import terminals and the set-up of mature liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHC) infrastructure.
A previous NZTC report suggested a purpose-build marine pipeline could see Scotland meet 10% of Europe’s hydrogen import demand by the mid-2030s.
Read more: Hydrogen pipeline could see Scotland meet 10% of Europe’s import demand, says report
“The critical factors to accelerate collaboration between Scotland and Germany lie in mapping supply and demand development and the establishment of Pan North Sea infrastructure,” added Meryem Maghrebi, consultant at Cruh21.
Scotland recently scrapped its headline climate target of reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 75% by 2030.
Read more: Scotland abandons ‘out of reach’ 2030 emissions goal
McAllan said the 2030 goal was “out of reach,” but stressed the country’s 2045 Net Zero target would remain in place.
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