Black & Veatch has successfully completed the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) for the Whitelee Green Hydrogen Project, a flagship green hydrogen initiative led by ScottishPower Energy Retail Limited. Awarded in October 2024, the contract marks a key milestone in the U.K.’s efforts to scale up its hydrogen economy.
Located just 15 miles south of Glasgow, the project’s first phase will be powered by Whitelee Windfarm—the U.K.’s largest onshore wind facility. It will produce green hydrogen through electrolysis, using renewable electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. This results in a clean, zero-emission fuel ideal for decarbonising transport and industry.
The project was selected for support under the U.K. Government’s Hydrogen Allocation Round 1 (HAR1). It forms part of a broader national strategy to develop a robust hydrogen economy as the country transitions toward net-zero emissions.
“ScottishPower develops green hydrogen responsibly, and we selected Black & Veatch because of their decades of hydrogen experience and deep focus on safety,” said Mark Bradley, Hydrogen Director at ScottishPower Green Hydrogen Limited. “Our stakeholder-first approach is essential to successfully delivering low-carbon energy solutions to our customers.”
Advanced Engineering and Safety-Driven Design
Black & Veatch’s multi-disciplinary engineering team delivered a comprehensive FEED package that incorporates the OEM’s electrolyser package, hydrogen compression systems, and a tube-trailer dispensing station. The design also anticipates future scalability, with an initial 10 MW proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis system and conceptual plans for a second 10 MW phase—already shortlisted under the U.K.’s Hydrogen Allocation Round 2 (HAR2).
“This innovative project uses adjacent wind power to produce green hydrogen, helping to create a flexible, zero-carbon fuel source,” said Youssef Merjaneh, Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Black & Veatch. “We’re proud to support ScottishPower in delivering this vital piece of the U.K.’s clean energy infrastructure.”
Global Expertise in Green Hydrogen
With over 200 front-end loading (FEL) studies completed worldwide and 245 MW of green hydrogen projects delivered or in progress, Black & Veatch is recognised as a global leader in green hydrogen development. The firm is also the EPC provider for the ACES I green hydrogen hub in Utah, USA—one of the world’s most ambitious renewable hydrogen storage projects.
As the U.K. government continues to assess additional green hydrogen projects under HAR2, Black & Veatch is actively supporting clients across Europe in designing and delivering bankable, scalable low-carbon hydrogen infrastructure.
The Whitelee Green Hydrogen Project represents a cornerstone for clean fuel innovation in the U.K. and further underscores Black & Veatch’s role in advancing the global hydrogen economy.
