Green Cat Hydrogen (GCH), a developer of green hydrogen projects, is launching a public consultation exercise for an exciting new project beside Chapelcross, near Creca, Dumfries and Galloway.
GCH’s proposed project, which is subject to planning permission, will take place on South of Scotland Enterprise’s Energy Transition Zone. It aims to help kickstart the development of the main Chapelcross site, which is being taken forward by a variety of partners.
If approved, the development of GCH’s green hydrogen facility can help transform the local economy by generating around 50 high-skilled jobs during operation, plus 150 jobs during construction. The hydrogen produced at the proposed facility will be used to decarbonise local industries.
The Energy Transition Zone is located beside the main Chapelcross site and aims to attract significant inward investment focussed on green energy production.
Once operational, the GCH facility would be capable of producing over 4,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year, resulting in CO2 emissions reductions of up to 26,000 tonnes per annum – equivalent to planting 20,000 hectares of broadleaf forest.
Work is underway on the preliminary engineering and environmental studies for the project, and a planning application is being prepared.
Before the planning application is submitted to Dumfries and Galloway Council, GCH is holding two public consultation events, allowing the public to view the plans, learn more from the project team and provide feedback.
The events will take place at the Creca Village Hall. The first consultation will be held on 1st April 2025, 2pm to 7pm. The date and time of the second consultation will be announced on the GCH website – www.gchydrogen.co.uk.
The information presented at the consultation events will also be available on the GCH website.
Green Cat Hydrogen was established in 2022 to drive deep decarbonisation in carbon intensive sectors across the country. It is developing several further green hydrogen projects across Scotland, including in Perthshire and Orkney.
Last year, a masterplan for the future of the main Chapelcross site was unveiled, showcasing the vision to develop it into a Green Energy Hub.
The development of the hub will transform the local economy, creating the conditions for growth and actively kick-starting and progressively building a market with high value jobs, skills and activities in the green energy economy.
The multi-million pound, Net Zero-focused development will include hydrogen production, storage and associated logistics, advanced manufacturing, energy and enterprise campuses.
GCH will continue to work closely with partners to ensure the vision for Chapelcross is turned into reality.
Gavin Catto, CEO at Green Cat Hydrogen, said: “The public consultation is an important part of the project development process.
“We are committed to listening to the community’s views and working closely with local stakeholders.
“The current project at Chapelcross is just the first phase of what we hope will develop into a significant partnership for Green Cat Hydrogen and our counterparts.
“The project represents a significant contribution to the transformation of Chapelcross into a major hub for this exciting new technology.
“Green hydrogen is especially well-placed to solve the decarbonisation challenge faced in hard-to-electrify sectors, and we are drawing on our wide-ranging experience to move projects across Scotland forward at pace to meet significant anticipated demand.”
Jane Morrison-Ross, Chief Executive at South of Scotland Enterprise, said: “As part of Scotland’s Green Industrial Strategy, and as the Natural Capital Innovation Zone for Scotland, we are committed to creating an environment for investment and growth, as we transition to Net Zero.
“Our Energy Transition Zone beside Chapelcross is a catalyst to accelerate this ambition, and I am delighted Green Cat Hydrogen have unveiled their plans to be part of the site.
“We know that Chapelcross is perfectly placed in the middle of the UK, and its history and future reflect the importance of innovation in energy production.
“Green Cat Hydrogen’s proposals highlight again the South is the perfect place to invest and do business.
“We would encourage the local community to engage with the upcoming public engagements events to find out more about Green Cat Hydrogen’s plans.”
