Scotch Whisky Is In A Unique Position
Scotland has so much zero-carbon energy now, let alone in a few years, that Scotch whisky would not be the most difficult of industries to make completely zero-carbon, which could marketing-wise completely trump any tariffs, that Trummkopf might impose.
- Already some small distilleries are using hydrogen to distill the whisky.
- Some glass bottles are already made using hydrogen instead of natural gas to make zero-carbon malt whiskies.
- I’m sure Cummins in Darlington, JCB in Rocester and Ricardo in Sussex will be pleased to help make farm machinery, mechanical handling and road transport zero carbon.
- Soft fruit like raspberries are already used to absorb the carbon dioxide from the distillation process in some areas of Scotland. I’m sure dealing with more quality raspberries would not be a problem.
- A large electrolyser is planned for Kintore in the North of Scotland. Think of the good publicity for say Centrica or SSE, if they built the world’s largest hydrogen plant to help make zero-carbon whisky.
These are some more thoughts.
Taste Is Everything
As only the method of providing heat and electricity will have been changed, I can’t see there will be any change to the taste.
It’s Already Happening
This page on the Annandale Distillery web site is entitled Annandale Distillery Pioneers Zero-Carbon Whisky Production with EXERGY 3 Project.
The Kintore Electrolyser
These figures summarise the Kintore Electrolyser.
- Total Electrolyser Capacity – 3 GW
- First Phase – 500 MW
- Hydrogen – 200 kTonnes per year
Explore the Kintore Hydrogen web site.
Marketing Advantage
Scotland, is probably, the only country, where the main ingredients for whisky come together in abundance ; barley, energy, tradition and water.
It also is all produced in a single country in many different brands and types, which could all be produced in a zero-carbon manner.
Conclusion
Let’s give Trump a beating and the planet a kiss.
3GW Green Hydrogen Project To Power Heavy Industry With Surplus Scottish Wind Energy
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the Institute of Mechanical Engineers web site.
I have covered the Kintore Electrolyser before, but this is a professional description of the project from a respected institution, who should know what they are talking about.
I can see several other giant electrolysers being built, in places like Humberside, Merseyside, Teesside, where there are large amounts of wind power and heavy energy users in the cement, chemicals and steel industries.
There could also be one in Norfolk or Suffolk to use the masses of offshore wind power being developed.
Green Hydrogen Roundup: Statera Eyes ‘Critical’ 3GW Project In Scotland; UK Government Provides Support To Carlton Power And Octopus Hydrogen
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Current News.
This is the first heading.
Statera to develop ‘critical’ 3GW green hydrogen project in Scotland
These two paragraphs outline the project.
Energy generation and storage company Statera has released plans to develop a 3GW green hydrogen project in Scotland capable of supplying the UK with up to 30% of its 10GW by 2030 hydrogen target.
The major green hydrogen project is set to harness surplus Scottish wind power to power an electrolyser facility. The green hydrogen is expected to supply Statera’s power generating facilities and the UK’s carbon intensive industrial clusters via existing gas transmission pipelines.
This project will be built in Kintore.
This Google Map shows Kintore sub station.
As this substation features on the home page of Kintore Hydrogen’s informative web site, I would assume, the electrolyser will be built nearby.
Statera’s web site is also informative.
This is the second heading.
Carlton Power receives UK government backing for three green hydrogen projects
These two paragraphs outline the projects.
Energy infrastructure development company Carlton Power has received UK government backing for three green hydrogen projects in Greater Manchester, Cumbria and Devon.
The backing has been received via the first round of the government’s Hydrogen Business Model (HBM)/Net Zero Hydrogen Fund process, which is worth up to £240 million. Around 15 projects in total will receive financial backing via this allocation.
The three projects will have a total capacity of 240 MW.
This article is very much one to read fully and thoroughly.
These are my thoughts.
Hydrogen Will Be Used To Bring Energy South From Scotland
This is part of a quote from Statera’s Managing Director.
The use of green hydrogen in the project has various perks. Firstly, it will utilise excess green energy that is generated from the vast Scottish wind sector and thus provide an additional basis to decarbonise sectors.
In doing so, Statera has said this will reduce the need for more costly transmission grid reinforcements to convey excess electricity in Scotland to other parts of the UK – in particular large industrial clusters.
Extracting Hydrogen From The Hydrogen/National Gas Blend
It’s all very well bringing the hydrogen South from Scotland blended with natural gas in the existing gas network, but how do you deliver pure hydrogen to those that need it?
In New Device Separates Hydrogen From Natural Gas When The Two Gases Are Blended In Pipelines, I wrote about such a device that has been developed by HyET Hydrogen in the Netherlands.
It is claimed to be silent and to create 99.9 % pure hydrogen.
Conclusion
This is an important milestone in cutting the UK’s carbon emissions.
The Anonymous Widower 