Superglass, a major UK manufacturer of glass mineral wool insulation, entered a strategic partnership with Carlton Power to supply it with green H₂ for its manufacturing facility at Stirling, Scotland. The partnership agreement will support the development of Carlton Power’s proposed Stirling Green H₂ scheme and reduce Superglass’ reliance on natural gas.

The Stirling Green H₂ scheme is Carlton Power’s first scheme in Scotland. Subject to planning and final designs, it will be similar to Carlton’s three other H₂ projects that were shortlisted by the UK Government (March 30th) to receive financial support through the government’s H₂ Business Model/Net Zero H2 Fund. The UK Government is using these multi-million-pound programs to encourage the growth of the H₂ economy in Scotland and across the UK. 

Carlton Power is an established independent energy infrastructure development company with offices in Edinburgh and Stokesley in north Yorkshire. Its Stirling Green H₂ scheme will provide Superglass and potentially other energy-intensive users in the area (for example, those with transport fleets) with H₂ to fuel their operations.

Secured demand for H₂ at Stirling will underpin the initial development of a 10-megawatt (MW) electrolyzer, expected to produce approximately 1,000 tpy of green H₂, reducing 7,000 t of GHG emissions which is equivalent to taking c160 trucks off Scotland’s roads every year. Carlton Power anticipates H₂ demand in the area to increase significantly in the near term and will develop the project in such a way that additional capacity can be added. The H₂ will be produced by an electrolyzer using electricity that is generated from sources of renewable energy, primarily wind and solar power. 

The scheme is to be located at Polmaise, close to Superglass’ manufacturing plant on the Thistle Industrial Estate in Stirling. The Superglass plant, which completed a £37-MM upgrade in 2019, produces around 60,000 t of glass wool insulation annually and employs 200 people.

The scheme, subject to planning and financing, will see sustainable H₂ fuel being produced at scale, creating opportunities for businesses in Stirling and the surrounding area to make net zero plans with H₂ in mind. The H₂ hub facility will support the growth of renewable electricity generation by utilizing it to produce and store H₂ at times when renewable output is high, but demand is low.  

Eric Adams, H₂ Projects Director at Carlton Power, said, “We’re delighted to be working with Superglass to bring forward our Stirling Green H₂ hub; it will help Superglass achieve its sustainability goals and support Scotland’s decarbonization strategy. It is critical that projects such as this are brought forward to support investment by local companies in their operations that can reduce their carbon emissions.”

Theresa McLean, Chief Executive of Superglass, said, “Carlton Power’s experience in H₂ and wider energy project development in the UK is first-class, and so we are very pleased to be working with them to develop the Stirling scheme.” 

“Superglass’s operations are already very energy efficient—our glass wool insulation is made from up to 84% recycled glass and is estimated to save around 300 times the amount of energy used to manufacture it—but we know that we must do more.”

“We need to make the transition from fossil-based fuels to H₂ to cut our carbon emissions. The Stirling Green H₂ scheme will be an important step forward for not only our company, but the community in which we operate.”

Stirling is part of a portfolio of green H₂ schemes being developed by Carlton Power and, subject to planning consent and a final investment decision within the next 12 mos–18 mos, it would be owned by the Green H₂ Energy Company (GHECO), Carlton’s new joint venture company with Schroders Greencoat (announced on May 23rd). 

Within GHECO, Carlton Power is managing the development, construction and operation of current and future green H₂ projects, with Schroders Greencoat leading the financing of the projects and leveraging its UK renewable energy expertise. Schroders Greencoat is a specialist investment manager dedicated to the renewable energy infrastructure sector in the UK and Europe.

Carlton Power, Superglass and GHECO would like to see the green H₂ hub in operation in 2026 but its construction is contingent on securing local planning and financial support from the UK Government.

Over the next 12 mos–18 mos, Superglass and Carlton Power will work together on the various economic, technical, and engineering aspects of the scheme, as well as consultations with local and national stakeholders, including the Scottish Government. They will also work together to obtain grant funding and operational financial support from the UK Department of Energy Supply and Net Zero (DESNZ). A submission to DESNZ will be made into the next H₂ Allocation Round, scheduled to be launched in the final quarter of this year.