Moray Council has unveiled a roadmap through which it is aiming to kickstart a hydrogen economy.
In adopting the roadmap, the council said it is driving forward its ambitions to use hydrogen to deliver a substantial amount of Moray’s energy and service needs on a path to a low carbon future.
Key elements include considering piloting a small number of hydrogen vehicles in the council’s fleet using hydrogen that is produced elsewhere, striving to boost demand for the fuel. It also wants to explore how its hydrogen strategy can feed into the development of the Moray Local Development Plan 2027.
The public hydrogen refuelling stations will likely be put in locations where traffic flows are high and whisky distilleries are close and could provide demand. Buckie was also noted as having the potential for a refuelling station for the maritime industry. Investigations into a dual-purpose refuelling station will be considered in due course.
Marc Macrae, Chair of Moray Council’s Economic Development and Infrastructure Services Committee explained: “A hydrogen economy in Moray would have many strings to its bow. It could address fuel poverty issues, particularly in our rural areas, while helping to reduce our greenhouse gas and particulate emissions. It could also improve the security of our energy supply and increase and make better use of local renewable energy generation.”
