The North-east will be home to one of the biggest hydrogen plants in Europe after councillors gave the project the green light in a major boost to the clean energy industry in the region.
The Kintore Hydrogen project, which is being promoted by Statera Energy, can now move forward after Aberdeenshire councillors granted planning permission for the development in a crunch meeting yesterday.
The plant - which will generate £400million in GVA for the North-east economy - will use its strategic location to take abundant electricity from offshore wind to produce green hydrogen through a process of electrolysis.
While the Scottish government will have the final say on whether or not the project goes ahead, council permission marks a significant milestone and hurdle passed.
Amid challenging and uncertain times for employment in the oil and gas sector, the Kintore Hydrogen project will create 3,000-plus construction jobs and a further 300-plus when operational.
Welcoming the news, Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce chief executive Russell Borthwick said: "This was an opportunity we could not afford to let slip through our fingers, so it’s very positive news that good sense prevailed.
"It sends out a very clear message that our region intends to be right at the forefront globally of clean energy innovation, development and operations.
"As evidenced by recent Chamber surveys and other reports, the future of the North-east economy is on a knife edge and it’s not just thousands of oil and gas related jobs that are at risk but many more in extended supply chains. Developments like this will provide a significant confidence boost and will support the fabled ‘just transition’."
Some members of the Garioch area committee had voiced opposition to the project, citing fears Kintore was becoming too industrialised, while Historic Environment Scotland was worried it might damage the South Leylodge steading stone circle.