Project Willow: Transforming Scotland's Grangemouth Industrial Complex Towards a Low-Carbon Future
Key Ideas
  • Project Willow, a £1.5m feasibility study, explores low-carbon alternatives for Grangemouth industrial complex in Scotland, potentially saving 400 jobs.
  • Consultants EY identified nine innovative ideas including hydrogen-related technologies like hydrogenated esters, hydrogen fuel switching, and e-ammonia.
  • Investments ranging from £15m to £2bn could create 35-270 jobs in various sectors such as plastics recycling, biorefining, bioethanol production, and green hydrogen usage.
  • The project envisions a sustainable future for Grangemouth by utilizing renewable resources, reducing carbon emissions, and fostering economic growth through green technologies.
The Grangemouth industrial complex in Scotland faces challenges with the imminent closure of the only oil refinery, putting 400 jobs at risk. To address this, Project Willow, a £1.5m feasibility study funded by the UK and Scottish governments, aims to explore low-carbon alternatives for the site. Consultants EY evaluated 300 technologies and proposed nine innovative ideas that could be developed with private sector investment. These include hydrogen-related technologies such as hydrogenated esters, hydrogen fuel switching, and e-ammonia, among others. Each idea requires different levels of capital investment, ranging from £15m to £2bn, and could create between 35 to 270 jobs. For instance, hydrothermal and dissolution plastics recycling, acetone-butanol-ethanol biorefining, second-generation bioethanol production, anaerobic digestion, and e-methanol for aviation fuel are among the proposed projects. By utilizing sustainable resources such as waste plastics, timber, and renewable energy sources like hydrogen, the project aims to reduce carbon emissions, promote circular economy practices, and drive economic growth in the region. While some technologies could start operations as early as 2028, others may take until 2036 to begin production. Overall, Project Willow envisions a sustainable future for the Grangemouth complex, aligning with the UK's and Scotland's goals of transitioning to a low-carbon economy. The initiative emphasizes innovation, job creation, and environmental sustainability, marking a positive step towards a greener industrial landscape in Scotland.
ADVANCEH2

Our vision is to be the world's leading online platform for advancing the use of hydrogen as a critical piece needed to deliver net-zero initiatives and the promise of a clean H2 energy future.

© 2025 AdvanceH2, LLC. All rights reserved.