Storegga, a leading independent developer of low-carbon solutions, has submitted a planning application to Moray Council for the development of a green H₂ facility aimed at helping to decarbonize local distilleries and support the wider drive to sustainable energy solutions.

The proposed development at Ballindalloch, Marypark, represents a significant step forward in reducing carbon emissions within the distilling industry, aligning with both regional and national environmental goals.

Scotland’s whisky industry accounts for just over three quarters of Scotland’s food and drink exports and contributes £7.1-B gross value added (GVA) to the UK economy, with £5.3 B generated in Scotland alone, supporting 41,000 jobs.

As a highly energy-intensive sector, with scope 1 and 2 emissions measuring over 600,000 tons of CO₂ in 2022, there is a need to decarbonize, and the Scotch Whisky Association has set an ambitious target for the sector to reach net zero in its operations by 2040.

Christina Smitton, Speyside H₂ Opportunity Manager, said, "We are pleased to take this important step towards creating a greener future for local distilleries and the wider community. The development of green H₂ is a vital component of Scotland’s energy transition, and we are thrilled to be leading the charge in bringing this important technology to the region, creating new employment and safeguarding existing distillery jobs. We look forward to continuing to work closely with our community, stakeholders and the local authority as we move through the planning process."

Recognized by the Scottish Government as a key clean energy solution, green H₂ offers a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels which the whisky sector currently relies on. A recent report identified distilleries as the third largest demand source for H₂ in industry with the potential annual H₂ demand for all distilleries in Scotland estimated to be 1.4 TWh.

The Speyside H₂ facility will use renewable electricity to split water into H₂ and oxygen through electrolysis and is poised to play a pivotal role in reducing the carbon footprint of Moray’s iconic whisky distilleries, which need to act now to futureproof a product that will be sold and consumed in years to come.

Producing on average 25 tpd of electrolytic green H₂, the facility is expected to supply clean energy to local distilleries. This will help the industry reduce its CO₂ emissions by 50,000 tpy, safeguarding jobs in the sector and creating up to 30 full time positions once the site is operational.

The planning application follows two public consultation events which took place last year, where members of the local community and stakeholders were invited to learn more about the project, ask questions and provide feedback. Storegga is committed to ensuring that community engagement continues throughout the development process.

As part of its commitment to education and the local community, Storegga recently hosted STEM workshops at Glenlivet and Tomintoul primary schools, where students learned about different renewable energies and the role they play in tackling climate change, and were challenged to design a project mascot that represented the main concepts.

The planning application is now under review by the local authority and can be accessed via Moray Council’s planning portal. The Speyside H₂ team are hopeful for a positive outcome in the coming months. If approved, construction is expected to begin in 2026.