UK's Superglass switches from gas to hydrogen to lower footprint
Pamela Largue
Posted on: 12 July 2023
Superglass has partnered with Carlton Power to supply it with green hydrogen for its manufacturing facility at Stirling in Scotland.
Superglass, a UK manufacturer of glass mineral wool insulation, has partnered with energy developer Carlton Power to supply it with green hydrogen for its manufacturing facility at Stirling in Scotland.
Carlton Power's Stirling Green Hydrogen scheme will provide Superglass and potentially other energy-intensive users in the area with hydrogen to fuel their operations.
This in turn will reduce Superglass’ reliance on natural gas.
The scheme will be situated close to Superglass’ manufacturing plant, which produces around 60,000 tonnes of glass wool insulation annually.
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The Stirling Green Hydrogen scheme is Carlton Power’s first scheme in Scotland. Securing an off-taker for the hydrogen is expected to spur the initial development of a 10MW electrolyser which will produce approximately 1000 tonnes of green hydrogen every year.
The scheme will see sustainable hydrogen fuel being produced at scale, will help develop a local hydrogen value chain and support renewable electricity generation by utilising it to produce and store hydrogen.
According to Carlton Power, hydrogen demand in the area will increase significantly in the near term and will therefore develop the project in such a way that additional capacity can be added.
Theresa McLean, chief executive of Superglass, said: “Superglass’s operations are already very energy efficient – our glass wool insulation is made from up to 84% recycled glass and is estimated to save around 300 times the amount of energy used to manufacture it – but we know that we must do more.”
“We need to make the transition from fossil-based fuels to hydrogen in order to cut our carbon emissions. The Stirling Green Hydrogen scheme will be an important step forward for not only our company, but the community in which we operate.”
Stirling is part of a portfolio of green hydrogen schemes being developed by Carlton Power and, subject to planning consent and a final investment decision within the next 12-18 months, it would be owned by the Green Hydrogen Energy Company (GHECO), Carlton’s new joint venture company with Schroders Greencoat.
The green hydrogen hub is planned to be operational in 2026.
