A visioto utitilise Scottish offshore wind resources in the North Sea to make the country an exporter of clean energy has been unveiled at the COP 26 climate change conference in Glasgow. The Northern Horizons Project has been unveiled by Aker Horizons' portfolio companies Aker Offshore Wind and Aker Clean Hydrogen, who have the technical know-how and expertise to realise the project, and DNV, the independent energy expert and assurance provider. The project describes how harnessing 10GW of renewable energy in the North Sea can deliver decarbonisation targets by sending clean products to the mainland and exporting them to fuel-heavy or hard-to-abate industries.

The Northern Horizons initiative is a response to the Scottish government's stated ambition to develop Scotland's potential to export significant quantities of hydrogen. The government is targeting 5GW of hydrogen production by 2030 and is actively seeking international collaboration in the development of a shared hydrogen economy. The project, which could start production from 2030, will deliver predictability for a fit-for-purpose Scottish supply chain ready to support the energy transition towards 2045 and beyond.

It would also create thousands of jobs and the investment of billions of pounds during construction and operation. The Aker companies and DNV are now embarking on a consultation project with governments and businesses to mature the project toward a future investment decision. The project will utilise floating offshore wind turbines to produce 10GW of energy to power multiple floating installations which will produce green hydrogen for onwards transmission to a net zero hydrogen refinery on Shetland.

Green hydrogen is produced when renewable energy is used to power the electrolysis of water. The refinery - powered by floating offshore wind turbines - will produce a range of zero carbon energy solutions for local consumption and export across the world, including ammonia, liquid hydrogen, and synthetic fuels. Floating offshore wind is the latest advent in renewable technology and this project will utilise giant turbines nearly as tall as the London Shard on floating platforms more than 130km from Shetland.