HIGHLANDS, Scotland, Aug 11, 2026 – The Highland Council has approved Protium’s plans to build a 15 MW green hydrogen electrolysis facility in Alness, near Inverness, Scotland. The Cromarty Green Hydrogen Production Facility (CGHPF) is the first stage of the Highland Hydrogen Hub. Protium acquired the project in May 2026. It tailored the hydrogen offtake strategy to improve energy efficiency and reduce traffic, noise and visual effects.
The Cromarty Hydrogen Project received support through the UK government’s Hydrogen Allocation Round 1 (HAR1) and has a Low Carbon Hydrogen Agreement under the Hydrogen Production Business Model. The project will produce green hydrogen in the Scottish Highlands for industrial and transport applications.
“We view ourselves as long-term partners in the Highland economy,” said Kim McCann, chief commercial officer, Protium. “This planning approval is a huge vote of confidence in our approach: producing Highland green energy for Highland use. By turning the region’s natural wind wealth into a local asset, Cromarty will build energy independence, reduce reliance on global fuel markets, and catalyse long-term economic growth.”
Planned Hydrogen Uses:
Protium said the facility’s hydrogen output is for off-grid generators, heavy transport and industrial users in the Highlands and Aberdeenshire.
- Emissions and noise: The company said locally produced hydrogen could reduce emissions and operating noise from generators, heavy transport and industrial operations.
- Employment and construction: Protium expects the project to support about 30 permanent jobs and apprenticeships in Cromarty, along with contracting roles.
- Supply chain: The company plans to direct investment toward regional contractors, logistics providers and training hubs.
- Net-zero target: The project is intended to support The Highland Council’s target of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.
Community Benefits Scheme
Protium plans a Community Benefits Scheme developed through engagement with regional stakeholders.
The proposal includes:
- Employment and fair work: Local recruitment, upskilling and apprenticeships.
- Local procurement: Use of regional businesses during the project lifecycle.
- Community funding: Funding aligned with local socioeconomic and environmental needs.
- Educational outreach: STEM workshops, site visits and green-skills development for local schools, colleges and universities.
Source: Protium
About Protium
Protium Green Solutions, established in 2019 and headquartered in London, develops and operates end-to-end green hydrogen energy systems for industrial and transport sectors. The company focuses on infrastructure planning, hydrogen production, compression and logistics, offering a vertically integrated hydrogen-as-a-service model across the UK and Europe. Its Pioneer™ series electrolyzer units – Pioneer 1 and Pioneer 2 – support modular hydrogen production with integrated digital controls and monitoring. These systems use AVEVA software for real-time data collection, simulation and analytics, contributing to improved equipment reliability and operational efficiency. As of early 2025, Protium has raised approximately £31 million in Series B funding and reports annual revenues between $10 million and $15 million. The company’s current project pipeline is expected to support over 500 megawatts of renewable energy capacity and could enable annual CO₂ reductions of up to 256,000 tons. Protium’s approach aligns with decarbonization goals and supports scalable hydrogen adoption across its target industries.
