Machrihanish Airbase Community Company (MACC) has secured funding of more than £180,000 through the UK Government's UK Community Renewal Fund for their Hydrogen Futures Project.

MACC will work with ScottishPower to investigate potential markets for green hydrogen in Argyll and Bute.

The funding will be used for the Hydrogen Futures Project which builds on previous work done on the development of hydrogen production and supply from the former RAF Airbase.

Cameron McNair, Chairman of MACC, said: "It is great news for MACC to have secured this funding. Sustainability is at the core of the MACC purposes and the possible opportunities that hydrogen offers communities is very exciting. This project will allow MACC to make significant strides towards realising those opportunities."

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Green hydrogen can be used in areas where electrification can't or won't reach, like heavy transport and high temperature industrial processes. The Hydrogen Futures Project will investigate potential consumer markets for green hydrogen in the Argyll & Bute region and how to implement the production and distribution of green hydrogen on the MACC site.

ScottishPower will partner with MACC on the project. The energy company, one of the first to develop and operate onshore wind in Scotland over two decades ago, has a number of onshore wind farms in Argyll and Bute. The windfarms have helped bring socio-economic benefits to the area, including the creation of direct and indirect jobs, something which ScottishPower hopes will be replicated through the development of green hydrogen in the region.

Barry Carruthers, Hydrogen Director at ScottishPower said: "We're really excited to work with our partners MACC to explore the opportunity of a green hydrogen facility here in Machrihanish.

"The growth of renewable energy goes hand in hand with unlocking green hydrogen benefits for communities across Scotland. Bringing a facility here would ensure the communities in Argyll and Bute are able to directly benefit from the green hydrogen revolution we expect to see across Scotland over the next 10 to 15 years.

"We have worked extensively in Argyll & Bute to ensure renewable electricity is available to the region, and by now looking at green hydrogen production in the area, we can look to support industry and transportation with another zero-emission, clean fuel."