Protium Secures Future of Highland Green Hydrogen Economy
Protium, one of the UK’s leading green hydrogen energy companies, today announces the strategic acquisition of the Storegga Scottish portfolio, including the flagship Cromarty Hydrogen Project.
This acquisition represents a milestone for UK energy security and the regional independent domestic hydrogen economy. By transitioning the project to Protium, an organisation with an established “boots on the ground” operational record, Cromarty evolves from a development concept into a live project. While the project remains subject to the final stages of the planning process—with a committee decision expected next month—Protium is committed to working closely with planning authorities to demonstrate the project’s vital role in the region’s green transition.
Tim Stedman, CEO Storegga , said:
This transaction reflects Storegga’s focus on ensuring Cromarty continues under the stewardship of an established developer with the platform to build on the foundations established in recent years.
”We are confident in Protium’s track record in developing and operating hydrogen infrastructure in the UK and look forward to seeing the project move into its next phase.”
From Prototype to Production: The Protium Blueprint while much of the sector remains in the planning phase, Protium is already delivering physical hydrogen to the UK market. The company is now bringing its “Pioneer” blueprint—proven in South Wales—to scale the Highlands’ green economy:
- Pioneer 1 (Operational): Since 2023, this facility has completed successful commercial deliveries (c. 4,000kg), providing a live demonstration of Protium’s integrated delivery and maintenance model.
- Pioneer 2: Having recently achieved “first gas,” this 2.5MW facility is currently in its commissioning phase as it moves toward full commercial operations in June 2026. Representing a 25-fold increase in capacity from Pioneer 1, it is capable of producing one tonne of green hydrogen per day, projected to abate approximately 3,600 tonnes of CO2 annually, the environmental equivalent of removing 2,200 cars from UK roads every year. This providing a proven template for the scale of the Cromarty project.
- Experience in Action: By acquiring Cromarty, Protium is importing this tested operational experience to the North, ensuring the 15MW project is built on a foundation of technical success rather than theoretical planning.
Regional Security & Community Stewardship Protium operates as a full-service entity, managing the entire value chain, from production to its own transport fleet.
This ensures that Highland renewable wealth directly empowers local distilleries and logistics, rather than being diverted to external markets.
Christopher Jackson, CEO of Protium, says:
We are assuming stewardship of the Cromarty project with a clear goal: providing a cleaner and more secure energy future for Scotland,
“We aren’t just building a plant; we are embedding energy security, skills, resilience and economic opportunity through deploying a service that ensures Highland communities are the primary beneficiaries of the energy transition. Our experience with Pioneer 1 and 2 has shown that the UK’s bottleneck isn’t production, it’s making the energy transition simple for customers, communities and partners. We are here to close that gap for Scotland.”
A Resilient Highland Future: Addressing local priorities to reinforce institutional and community confidence, Protium is committed to a “Local First” operational model:
- Sustainable Career Pathways: Moving beyond short-term sponsorships, Protium is focused on creating approximately 30 permanent, high-skilled “green-collar” roles. We are committed to funding local vocational training and apprenticeships that offer youngsters a long-term career path within their own community.
- Water & Resource Protection: Recognising local concerns regarding water levels. The intent of developing a broader portfolio of assets is to ensure the offtake is not dependent on a single source, thereby avoiding overstretching local water demand. The Cromarty project will utilise high-efficiency technology designed to ensure hydrogen production does not compete with local domestic or agricultural supplies, even during peak summer months. Protium remains committed to transparency as the project moves through the planning process.
- Safety-First Logistics: Understanding the specific challenges of local infrastructure, Protium’s integrated transport fleet will work with experienced local hauliers, familiar with the region’s geography and weather conditions. These partners will operate under strict safety protocols and optimise routing to minimise traffic impact and enhance road safety for all Highland residents.
- Clean Operations & Waste Management: Green hydrogen is a clean process. Protium is committed to total transparency regarding site outputs, ensuring low-decibel operations and a rigorous waste management strategy that protects the local environment and air quality.
- Grid Infrastructure Synergy: By acting as a ‘smart’ demand-side responder, the project will absorb excess renewable generation during peaks and provide stability when generation is scarce, enhancing local grid resilience and avoiding costly infrastructure upgrades.
Protium is committed to a transparent and collaborative development process and in the initial stages of providing supplementary information to the Highland Council to support the planning application for the Cromarty Hydrogen Project. In tandem, Protium is establishing a dialogue with local Community Councils, with a view to coordinating a schedule for engagement sessions over the coming months. This approach ensures that local insights and priorities can be shared and considered as the project’s details continue to take shape.
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Protium Secures Future of Highland Green Hydrogen Economy, source
