A space age plant, pioneered by NASA, will provide cooling for Aberdeen’s new £333million exhibition centre.
The Event Complex Aberdeen (TECA) which is being delivered by Aberdeen City Council and its development partner, Henry Boot Developments (HBD), is being constructed by Robertson Group.
It will open this summer close to Aberdeen International Airport and the new city bypass.
The 12,500-capacity main arena will host conferences, exhibitions and music concerts, and is expected to attract major artists and events to the city.
The energy centre’s combined cooling heat and power (CCHP) facility will use the largest hydrogen fuel cell installation in the UK.
An anaerobic digestion plant will use agricultural crops, waste products, and food waste to produce renewable biofuel which will also feed into the CHCP.
Council co-leader Jenny Laing said: “Aberdeen is already a world-class city for energy production and energy innovation, so it is entirely fitting that we continue this expertise with our own new world-class venue.
Nick Harris, director of HBD in Scotland, said: “At the beginning of this project, Aberdeen City Council’s brief to us was that TECA should be one of the most modern and sustainable venues in the UK. After looking at all the options it became clear that generating green energy in an on-site energy centre was the best way to deliver that aim.”
Robertson Chief Executive Officer Derek Shewan said: “Completing construction of the energy centre marks another significant milestone in this landmark project.
“With our partners, we are building a world-class conference and exhibition centre and the new energy centre will ensure it is powered sustainably.”