Minutes: 20 May 2025

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 3 and 4 in private.

2. Plans for future of Grangemouth (Project Willow study):

The Committee took evidence on hydrogen aspects of the study from—

Lewis Elder, Commercial Operations and Policy Director, Statera Energy Limited;

Bill Ireland, Chief Executive Officer, Logan Energy Limited;

Mark Bradley, Hydrogen Director, ScottishPower;

David Amos, Managing Director, PlusZero;

Tim Dumenil, Head of Business Development, Hydrogen , Storegga;

and then from—

Professor Stuart Haszeldine , Professor of Carbon Capture and Storage, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh;

Nic Braley, General Manager, Acorn Project;

Professor Hannah Chalmers, Personal Chair of Sustainable Energy Systems, School of Engineering, Institute for Energy Systems, University of Edinburgh;

Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer, Director UK Industrial Decarbonisation Research an Innovation Centre (IDRIC), Heriot-Watt University.

 

Edward Mountain declared that he is proprietor of Delfur Fishings, a salmon fishery on the River Spey and that he is a member of the Spey Fishery Board, a statutory body which has recently considered and objected to a planning application submitted by Storegga for a hydrogen plant in Marypark, Moray.

3. Plans for future of Grangemouth (Project Willow study):

The Committee considered the evidence heard earlier in the meeting and agreed to write to SGN (a gas distribution company operating in Scotland) for further information on points raised during the session.

4. Annual report:

The Committee considered a draft annual report for the parliamentary year from 13 May 2024 to 12 May 2025. Various changes were agreed to. The Committee delegated to the Convener responsibility for finalising the draft report for publication.