Professional services company Worley will lead the work from its Aberdeen office.

Once operational it will be the largest green hydrogen project in Europe, securing Aberdeenshire’s position at the heart of the innovative green hydrogen economy while providing flexible capacity and energy security to the wider UK.

Kintore Hydrogen was a successful applicant in the UK Government’s Net Zero Hydrogen Fund (NZHF) Strand 1 competition in March 2023, receiving funding for the FEED, planning and consenting work for the initial 500MW phase.

The project aims to harness surplus electricity generated by Scotland’s offshore wind resources to produce green hydrogen. This will play a critical role in decarbonising power generation facilities and carbon intensive industrial clusters across the country.

The North East of Scotland has historically been a global leader in the energy sector and the local expertise and skills within the region will be vital for driving the project forward.

Don Harrold, Statera Energy’s project director, said: “Kintore Hydrogen is a groundbreaking project and a key demonstration of Statera’s commitment to meeting the challenge of decarbonising the UK’s energy system and industrial sectors and, in the process, providing vital energy security.

“We see the North East of Scotland playing a major part in the energy transition, and this project is a real opportunity to position the region at the forefront of the growth of the green hydrogen sector. We’re delighted to be working with Worley to deliver the FEED study with excellent local talent and expertise.”

Graham Swan, Worley’s vice president of onshore energy, said: “Our ability to deliver from Aberdeen was pivotal in securing this contract. The North East of Scotland is in the midst of a major transition, as the region aims to become a key hub for energy transition activities to accelerate net zero ambitions.

“With a strong presence in Aberdeen, we’re leveraging transferable skills and supporting the transition of our workforce from traditional energy, chemicals and resources experts to experts in today’s low carbon energy infrastructure and technology.”

Mr Swan added: “It’s exciting to be engaged with Statera in moving forward the largest green hydrogen project in the UK pipeline, a critical element of the UK’s net zero strategy. We recognise the importance of getting the FEED stage right and developing a safe, robust and quality solution will be an essential component of Worley’s involvement. Every aspect of our execution approach is designed to ensure safety and optimal operations. From the FEED stage, beyond construction and through the project’s whole lifespan.”

The proposed FEED study has a target completion date in Q4 2024 and a target final investment decision in 2025. The full 3GW of production is expected to be online by the 2030s.