Insulation Manufacturer Agrees Green Hydrogen Power Partnership

SUPERGLASS, a manufacturer of glass mineral wool insulation, has entered into a strategic partnership with Carlton Power to supply it with green hydrogen for its manufacturing facility at Stirling, Scotland.

The partnership agreement will support the development of Carlton Power’s proposed Stirling Green Hydrogen scheme and reduce Superglass’ reliance on natural gas.

The Stirling Green Hydrogen scheme is Carlton Power’s first scheme in Scotland. Subject to planning and final designs, it will be similar to Carlton’s three other hydrogen projects that were shortlisted by the UK Government to receive financial support in a bid to encourage the growth of hydrogen in the UK.

Carlton Power is an independent energy infrastructure development company. Its Stirling Green Hydrogen scheme will provide Superglass and potentially other energy-intensive users in the area with hydrogen to fuel their operations.

Hydrogen Power Partnership

Securing demand for hydrogen at Stirling will underpin the initial development of a 10MW (megawatt) electrolyser, expected to produce around 1000 tonnes of green hydrogen every year.

The development will prevent 7000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions which is equivalent to taking 160 trucks off the roads every year. The hydrogen will be produced by an electrolyser using electricity that is generated from sources of renewable energy, primarily wind and solar power.

The hydrogen hub facility will support the growth of renewable electricity generation by utilising it to produce and store hydrogen at times when renewable output is high, but demand is low.

Carlton Power says it expects hydrogen demand in the area to increase significantly in the near term and will develop the project so that additional capacity can be added.

Superglass Plant

The scheme is to be located at Polmaise, close to Superglass’ manufacturing plant on the Thistle Industrial Estate in Stirling. The Superglass plant, which completed a £37m upgrade in 2019, produces around 60,000 tonnes of glass wool insulation annually and employs 200 people. Superglass was acquired by Etex last month.

Eric Adams, Hydrogen Projects Director at Carlton Power, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Superglass to bring forward our Stirling Green Hydrogen hub; it will help Superglass achieve its sustainability goals and support Scotland’s decarbonisation strategy.  It is critical that projects such as this are brought forward to support investment by local companies in their operations that can reduce their carbon emissions.”

Theresa McLean, Superglass General Manager UK, said: “Carlton Power’s experience in hydrogen and wider energy project development in the UK is first-class, and so we are very pleased to be working with them to develop the Stirling scheme.”

“Superglass’s operations are already very energy efficient – our glass wool insulation is made from up to 84% recycled glass and is estimated to save around 300 times the amount of energy used to manufacture it – but we know that we must do more.”

“We need to make the transition from fossil-based fuels to hydrogen in order to cut our carbon emissions.  The Stirling Green Hydrogen scheme will be an important step forward for not only our company, but the community in which we operate.”

Stirling is part of a portfolio of green hydrogen schemes being developed by Carlton Power. Subject to planning consent and a final investment decision within the next 12-18 months, it would be owned by the Green Hydrogen Energy Company, Carlton’s new joint venture company with Schroders Greencoat, announced on 23 May.

Within GHECO, Carlton Power is managing the development, construction and operation of current and future green hydrogen projects. Schroders Greencoat leads the financing of the projects, as a specialist investment manager in the renewable energy infrastructure sector.

Carlton Power, Superglass and GHECO would like to see the green hydrogen hub in operation in 2026 but its construction is contingent on securing local planning and financial support from the UK Government.

Over the next 18 months, Superglass and Carlton Power will work on the various economic, technical, and engineering aspects of the scheme, as well as consultations with local and national stakeholders, including the Scottish government.

>> Read more about Superglass in the news