Hydrogen plant would provide skilled job boost

UPDATED documents show that a planned hydrogen production facility near Annan would create 47 jobs, if given the go ahead. Creca Hydrogen Ltd, founded by Green Cat Hydrogen, submitted plans in January to build what would be the biggest hydrogen facility in the UK. They want to construct a 50 MWe electrolyser facility and associated ancillary infrastructure on land adjacent to the former Chapelcross Nuclear facility, the old runway site. New documents, submitted last week, show the project will produce 168 jobs in the construction phase, while a further 76 jobs will be indirect. And once completed, the site will bring about an estimated 47 direct jobs, with a further 36 indirect. The socio-economic impact report states: “The facility will revitalise the Chapelcross area by reintroducing high value skilled jobs in the energy industry and developing green skills. “The proposed facility is larger than any green hydrogen production facility currently in operation in the UK, thus it will allow Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, and the wider region to become a leader in this emerging industry.” Energy produced at the site will be used to decarbonise local industries within Dumfries and Galloway. The facility, which the applicant hopes to complete by 2028, will produce electrolytic hydrogen, which entails the electrochemical splitting of water into molecular hydrogen, with oxygen as a by-product. The oxygen produced will then be released to the atmosphere.