A milestone has been reached in a pioneering hydrogen-powered bus project with the start of work on the UK’s first refuelling station.
The facility at Kittybrewster in Aberdeen will service Europe’s largest fleet of hydrogen-powered coaches.
Civil engineering works are already underway at the site, while construction giant CHAP has been appointed to carry out the scheme.
The green transport demonstration project has the backing of both the UK and Scottish governments, as well as millions in funding from the European Union.
Labour council leader Jenny Laing said: “This is a very important milestone, not only for the Aberdeen Hydrogen Bus Project, but also for the city in bringing us a significant step closer towards realising Aberdeen’s aspirations of becoming a world-leading city for low carbon technology, while maintaining our position as a leading world energy city.
“The Aberdeen Hydrogen Bus Project is an important demonstration project which is helping to inform the growth and development of hydrogen technologies and the hydrogen industry, as well as a strong hydrogen economy in Aberdeen. It will have significant benefits locally, nationally and internationally.
“We are experiencing a great deal of interest in what we are doing here and there is a strong focus on how that can be replicated elsewhere. We are learning as we go, which brings the additional benefit of building expertise as we progress, placing Aberdeen in a strong position to be a European centre of excellence in hydrogen technology.”
Transport Minister Keith Brown said the SNP government was committed to “de-carbonising” Scotland’s road transport sector by 2050. He said hydrogen vehicles were likely to be an important element of a “more sustainable” transport system in the future.
He said: “The arrival of hydrogen buses in Aberdeen will not only mean cleaner, healthier air for the city and contribute to Scotland’s climate change efforts, but the change to low carbon vehicles also offers long term economic opportunities to businesses across Scotland.”
Hydrogen will be produced as well as stored at the Kittybrewster site via a 1MW electrolyser.
Industrial, medical and special gases provider BOC will instal and operate the equipment. The company’s innovation manager Nick Rolf said: “BOC is extremely proud to be installing, owning and operating this state-of-the-art bus refuelling station and hope it will serve as a catalyst for other cities to follow suit across Scotland and beyond.”