Infrastructure developer Black & Veatch has completed a front-end engineering design (FEED) study for the Whitelee Green Hydrogen Project, a proposed development near Glasgow, Scotland, owned by ScottishPower Energy Retail Limited. The contract, awarded in October 2024, marks a significant step in the UK’s green hydrogen ambitions, particularly as the project is part of the government’s Hydrogen Allocation Round 1 (HAR1) process.
The Whitelee project, located about 15 miles south of Glasgow, aims to produce green hydrogen using renewable energy from the adjacent Whitelee Windfarm, the UK’s largest onshore windfarm. This approach aligns with the project’s goal of utilizing renewable fuel with zero-carbon emissions. Green hydrogen is produced by using electricity from renewable sources, such as wind, and converting it through electrolysis, a process that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen.
The completion of the FEED study by Black & Veatch underscores the growing momentum in the green hydrogen sector. The company’s multi-disciplinary engineering team delivered a design focused on safety, incorporating the original equipment manufacturer’s (OEM) electrolyser package design, as well as the balance of plant scope, including hydrogen compression and a tube-trailer dispensing station.
The first phase of the Whitelee project covers 10 MW of proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis, with a conceptual design that includes a second phase incorporating an additional 10 MW in electrolysis capacity. This second phase has been shortlisted for the UK government’s Hydrogen Allocation Round 2 (HAR2) process, indicating the project’s potential for expansion and its alignment with national energy strategies.
Mark Bradley, Hydrogen Director at ScottishPower Green Hydrogen Limited, emphasized the company’s commitment to responsible green hydrogen development. “ScottishPower develops green hydrogen responsibly and we selected Black & Veatch because of their decades of experience in hydrogen and strong commitment to safety,” Bradley said. “We take a holistic development approach, consulting with local stakeholders to ensure we are able to successfully develop low carbon sources of energy for our customers.”
Black & Veatch’s involvement in the Whitelee project is part of a broader trend in the energy sector, where green hydrogen is increasingly seen as a key component in the transition to lower carbon solutions. The company has completed more than 200 front-end loading (FEL) studies globally, with 245 MW of green hydrogen projects completed or under construction. This experience positions Black & Veatch as a key player in the development of green hydrogen infrastructure.
Youssef Merjaneh, senior vice president and managing director for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Black & Veatch, highlighted the company’s role in engineering and deploying innovative green hydrogen energy infrastructure. “Our clients entrust us to help engineer and deploy innovative, bankable green hydrogen energy infrastructure to transition them to lower carbon solutions,” Merjaneh said. “This innovative project will produce green hydrogen from adjacent onshore wind as part of the U.K. government’s HAR funding program, and we look forward to continued collaboration with the ScottishPower team.”
The Whitelee Green Hydrogen Project exemplifies the potential for green hydrogen to play a crucial role in the UK’s energy transition. As the government continues to shortlist new projects for funding through its HAR program, the sector is likely to see further growth and innovation. The success of projects like Whitelee could shape the development of green hydrogen infrastructure, not only in the UK but also globally, as countries seek to reduce their carbon footprints and transition to more sustainable energy sources.