Several councillors have raised concerns about the risks involved and one local councillor has questioned why the plant could not be developed on a brownfield site rather than “in beautiful countryside”.
On Wednesday, April 15 Perth and Kinross Council’s Planning and Placemaking Committee was offered the chance to raise any key issues which should be considered as part of the planning process.
Strathallan Hydrogen Limited’s proposal is develop a hydrogen production facility just under a mile north west of Beannie Farm, Braco.
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It is one of four Green Cat Hydrogen projects in Scotland – two of which are in Perth and Kinross.
The four projects are: Hammars Hill Hydrogen in Orkney, Strathallan Hydrogen near Braco, Binn Ecopark Hydrogen in Glenfarg and Creca Hydrogen near the decommissioned Chapelcross Power Station in Dumfries and Galloway.
According to Green Cat Hydrogen the facility would use approximately 20MW of renewable energy from the co-located Strathallan Wind Farm to produce low-carbon hydrogen for local businesses including the hospitality industry and distilleries.
Electricity from the wind farm would be used to split purified water into its basic components – hydrogen and oxygen – by electrolysis. The hydrogen produced at the facility would then be transported to local businesses within a 20-mile radius via tube trailers.
Public consultations on the proposal took place at Braco Village Hall on March 12 and April 9 and councillors were asked to raise any key issues for consideration at this month’s Planning and Placemaking Committee.
Strathallan ward councillor Keith Allan said: “From what I’ve heard, read and seen, it appears this could be happening concurrently with the other major consideration that we have under consideration now for SSEN 400kV substation and I’m just concerned about the levels of traffic that is going to bring to Braco.
“I’m also concerned about the construction and the access and its suitability.”
Laughing, he added: “I’ve had an approach from a constituent who suggests to me the making of this hydrogen will make acid rain. It would be good to understand this will not lead to acid rain.”
Cllr Allan also questioned the suitability of “beautiful countryside” over a decommisioned power station being used for the development.
He added: “Finally, these things are stacking up and they are ruining our countryside. Why don’t we actually ask these people to stick them in brownfield sites such as Longannet, Kincardine or Cockenzie power stations? They’re great places for this. Why are we sticking them in beautiful countryside?”
Laughing, SNP councillor Ken Harvey responded: “I don’t think this will cause acid rain.”
However, Cllr Harvey did have concerns about the safety risks.
Addressing council planning officers, he said: “This is a fairly new development within our area and hydrogen processing does have quite unique risks. I see you’ve already contacted HSE but just make sure we get the full details to push away any particular concerns about this kind of development.”
Conservative councillor Ian James feared there was “potential for a disaster”.
Cllr James said: “Given the nature of hydrodgen and storage and everything else and potential for a disaster and given the fact we have other developments in the area I would just be concerned about safety distances in the event of something happening, being taken into consideration. Safety is really important. Hydrogen is a new thing and probably very much needed – but not at any cost.”
