A groundbreaking report by the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) highlights the transformative potential of the Hydrogen Backbone Link, a purpose-built marine pipeline, to accelerate Scotland's green hydrogen exports and catalyze job creation. This forward-looking infrastructure investment could pave the way for Scotland to achieve its ambitious green export goals by 2045.

Commissioned by the Scottish Government and supported by industry contributions, the Hydrogen Backbone Link project explores strategies for transporting hydrogen from Scotland to Europe. After meticulous evaluation of existing oil and gas infrastructure, the report underscores the feasibility of establishing a dedicated marine pipeline as the most feasible approach to channel Scotland's green hydrogen to global markets.

By the mid-2030s, projections indicate that Scotland could satisfy up to 10% of Europe's anticipated hydrogen import demands. This proposed infrastructure also holds the potential to facilitate hydrogen exports well beyond 2045.

The successful execution of the project could result in the creation of more than 700 jobs in Scotland during the initial phase, with the broader green economy potentially reaping the benefits of up to 300,000 jobs by 2045, as outlined in the report.

Neil Gray, Scottish Government Energy Secretary, affirmed the government's support for the Hydrogen Backbone Link project, emphasizing its role in evaluating pipeline development viability and unlocking the investment required to realize Scotland's export potential.

In pursuit of establishing Scotland as a front-runner in pan-European hydrogen infrastructure development, the project suggests rapid public and private investment acceleration to construct the backbone pipeline, ongoing investments in hydrogen and wind deployments, formulation of a National Energy Storage Strategy, cross-border policy alignment, and financial support for technology and infrastructure deployment.

By capitalizing on Scotland's abundant resources and skilled workforce, the Hydrogen Backbone Link project envisions a future characterized by accelerated development, robust infrastructure, and cross-border collaboration to drive the transition to a low-carbon energy landscape.

In conclusion, the Hydrogen Backbone Link project signifies a pivotal step toward propelling Scotland's green hydrogen export capabilities. By leveraging innovative infrastructure investments, Scotland stands poised to contribute significantly to Europe's hydrogen import demands while advancing its own sustainable economic growth and job creation objectives.