Powering the Highlands with Zero-Emission Green Hydrogen
Highland Council grants permission for Cromarty Green Hydrogen Production Facility (CGHPF), the first stage of the Highland Hydrogen Hub — the only green hydrogen project in Scotland with a contract for difference (HAR) subsidy, unlocking home-grown clean energy, local socio-economic investment, and green-collar jobs.
Protium, one of the UK’s leading green hydrogen companies, has announced that The Highland Council has officially granted planning permission for the Cromarty Green Hydrogen Production Facility (CGHPF), a flagship 15MW green hydrogen electrolysis facility located in Alness, near Inverness. This is the first stage of the Highland Hydrogen Hub.
Protium acquired the project in May 2026, specifically tailoring the hydrogen offtake strategy to maximise energy efficiency while minimising local traffic, noise, and visual impact on the surrounding landscape.
As the only hydrogen project with a contract for difference in Scotland, selected under the UK Government’s Hydrogen Allocation Round 1 (HAR1), Cromarty leverages significant Westminster financial support to directly lower energy costs for locally produced, zero-emission fuel. By producing and consuming green hydrogen within the region, the project ensures that all benefits remain directly within the Highlands.
Delivering Scotland’s Just Transition
'We view ourselves as long-term partners in the Highland economy,' said Kim McCann, Chief Commercial Officer, Protium. 'This planning approval is a huge vote of confidence in our approach: producing Highland green energy for Highland use. By turning the region’s natural wind wealth into a local asset, Cromarty will build energy independence, reduce reliance on global fuel markets, and catalyse long-term economic growth.'
Key Regional Benefits
- Cleaner Air & Quiet Operations: By harnessing local renewable energy to produce clean fuel, Cromarty will decarbonise off-grid generators, heavy transport, and regional industry across the Highlands and Aberdeenshire —cutting harmful emissions and operational noise.
- Economic Boost & Skilled Careers: The project will directly anchor approximately thirty permanent green-collar jobs and apprenticeships in Cromarty, alongside immediate local contracting roles throughout construction. Crucially, access to affordable green hydrogen will act as a launchpad for broader regional industry—fuelling long-term economic expansion and secondary job creation.
- Supply Chain Support: Protium will secure direct investment into regional contractors, logistics providers, and training hubs.
- Highland Net Zero Leadership: Directly supporting The Highland Council’s net-zero target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045, positioning the region as a global centre of excellence for clean energy transition.
Dedicated ‘Just Transition’ & Community Investment
To ensure the transition to net-zero is fair, inclusive, and delivers lasting socio-economic value, Protium is committing to deliver a Community Benefits Scheme centred on four key pillars, developed through active engagement with regional stakeholders:
- Employment and Fair Work, which prioritises local recruitment, upskilling, and apprenticeships to keep young talent within their home communities.
- Local Procurement, which partners with regional businesses across the project lifecycle.
- Community Funding, which aligns funding directly with the real socio-economic and environmental needs of the region.
- Educational Outreach, which delivers STEM workshops, site visits, and green skills development for local schools, colleges, and universities.
Construction timelines and community engagement updates for the Cromarty Green Hydrogen Production Facility (CGHPF) will be announced in due course.
About Protium
Protium is a green hydrogen company. Its end-to-end solutions help businesses decarbonise reliably, affordably, and safely by replacing fossil fuels across construction, manufacturing, transport, and operations.
By pioneering the scale-up and adoption of green hydrogen and its derivatives in the UK, Protium delivers practical hydrogen solutions that work today, spanning production, distribution and on-site deployment, supported by expert guidance from technical services to commercial development, to enable a confident transition to a cleaner, more resilient energy future.
Cromarty serves as the primary, active focus of Protium’s long-term strategy in Scotland, establishing a community-first model that will inform potential future developments across the Highlands creating key hubs like Speyside and Islay.
Source: Protium
