Fall-out over 4km, sonic boom and earth tremor: Health and safety expert lays bare frightening consequences in event of 'catastrophic failure' at proposed Gordonbush hydrogen hub
A retired health and safety officer has outlined the horrific consequences should a "catastrophic failure" occur at a proposed hydrogen production hub at a Sutherland wind farm.
A risk assessment prepared by David Perry of Knockarthur, claims there could be a fall-out of "friable material" of up to 4km, a sonic boom of up to 12km, an earth tremor of up to 2km and potential peat and heather fires.
Mr Perry is among a number of people who are deeply concerned over the planned siting of the experimental green energy plant at Gordonbush Wind Farm, Strath Brora.
Brora Community Council will be holding a public meeting on Tuesday, August 16, when the development will be discussed and feedback invited from residents in order to gauge local opinion.
However, a manager working with developer SSE Renewables recently said the hydrogen hub was at a very early stage, but was an exciting prospect.
The power giant announced earlier this year that it proposed to produce hydrogen at Gordonbush from wind energy using electrolysis - millions of litres of water would be required.
The hydrogen would be collected and stored in either cylinders on a trailer for transport to industrial uses in Scotland, or in fixed storage cylinders.
SSE has yet to apply for planning consent but has submitted an application to Highland Council for hazardous substance consent to produce and store green hydrogen.
Eighteen objections have been lodged with no representations of support. Objectors are anxious over the potential for an explosion but also deeply concerned at the impact of eight lorryloads a day, each carrying one tonne of hydrogen, on the fragile, single-track Strath Brora road; and the extensive use of water.
Nearest neighbours Christina Perera and Richard and Muriel Mowat, whose properties are around 1.4km from the proposed development, are among the objectors.
Mr Perry said that the Gordonbush was being used as a “guinea pig” site, and that SSE and their project managers had no experience of hydrogen plants as there were no full scale operations in the UK as yet - one is under construction outside Glasgow.
“People, including the Health and Safety Executive, do not know enough about the volatility of hydrogen - it is greater than LPG - to ensure the safety of others,” he said.
Using a five-step risk assessment process, Mr Perry has assessed the risk of a fall-out, sonic boom and fires as medium and an earth tremor as low.
Brora Community Council said it had lodged a “holding objection” to the hazardous substance consent application.
Secretary Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera said: “Many local residents have already expressed considerable concern about the implications of this proposal on safety grounds based on the very limited information given so far by SSE.
“In view of the short deadline for responses, our council is making a holding objection to this application. We will be holding a meeting in August when we will be able to discuss the matter further and to inform and gauge the opinion from local residents."
SSE Renewables' community investment manager Fiona Morrison spoke about the hydrogen hub at Rogart Community Council’s June meeting.
She confirmed there would be no monetary benefit to local communities from the development but suggested there might be in-kind advantages.
Ms Morrison said: “It is really early days for us but key to it is being able to find opportunities locally to supply the hydrogen, maybe heating options. That is where we can see benefits, rather than a monetary benefit that might be quite small as the hydrogen is coming from an existing wind farm and there is funding associated with that."
She added: “It is very exciting and it is fabulous that Gordonbush is the area that SSE has chosen to work with in this way. I am really chuffed.”
Leo Green, Head of Onshore Programmes at SSE Renewables said: “Keeping the public safe and making sure that everyone working for us gets home safely takes precedence over everything we do.
“The requirement to submit an application for Hazardous Substance Consent forms part of the wider pre-application consultation required to develop the planning application for the proposed hydrogen production facility at Gordonbush Wind Farm.
“In accordance with these regulations, the Highland Council are required to consult with HSE and other statutory consultees including the fire service and police, who undertake a comprehensive and independent assessment of the proposal to produce and store hydrogen on the site. The rigour of this process is designed to ensure safety is at the forefront of the application.
“Safety is core to our organisation and we take pride in our reputation as a responsible developer with a strong commitment to always doing the right thing.”
