The partners will work together to assess the readiness of the UK supply chain to support green hydrogen projects and highlight the potential economic value for the domestic supply chain. They will also show the potential for green, sustainable skills and high-value jobs emerging from a future hydrogen sector by using live projects as case studies.

The Partnership is made up of ScottishPower, ITM Power, Arcola Energy, Robert Gordon University, Energy Transition Zone Limited, Skills Development Scotland, Aberdeen University, North East Scotland College and the Hydrogen Accelerator (based at the University of St Andrews).

And, commercial insights from this work will support academic, public and private sectors as they look to maximise the positive impacts emerging from the growth of a green hydrogen economy.

Professor Paul de Leeuw, Chair of the National Energy Skills Accelerator (NESA) – a new initiative analysing opportunities in the green energy transition – commented, “The Hydrogen Skills Partnership is a great example of how industry and academia can collaborate for the benefit of the UK. We are very proud to be playing our role to equip Scotland and the UK with the diverse energy workforce required to deliver the energy transition and a thriving hydrogen economy.” The Hydrogen Skills Partnership initiative was announced during the Aberdeen City final of the Scottish Schools’ Hydrogen Challenge – another initiative ScottishPower is promoting.

Barry Carruthers, ScottishPower’s Hydrogen Director explains the importance of The Hydrogen Skills Partnership, “We recognise the role green hydrogen has to play in the climate emergency and we want to ensure that the UK is able to directly benefit from a thriving green hydrogen economy. We’re already working on a number of significant green hydrogen projects across the UK and The Hydrogen Skills Partnership will help bring together experts from industry and academia to ensure we’re able to develop a supply chain and skilled workforce who stand ready to help us make the UK one of the world leaders in green hydrogen.”

ScottishPower is currently involved in a number of green hydrogen projects in Scotland, including a project to deliver the UK’s largest green hydrogen facility at their Whitelee Windfarm close to Glasgow. This project is being delivered with partners including ITM Power, owner of the largest electrolyser manufacturing facility in the world.