Aberdeen to be Scotland's hydrogen bus hub

Date: 16/8/2012

Plans to make Aberdeen the hub of green transport and clean energy in Scotland have been given the go ahead by First Minister Alex Salmond.

The pioneering project would cost £3.3 million and is being backed by the European Union, as well as the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group.

It will make the Scottish city home to the biggest fleet of hydrogen buses anywhere in Europe, making low carbon transport an integral part of Aberdeen's travel infrastructure.

The first phase of the project will be to have ten hydrogen fuel cell buses, which produce water vapour instead of carbon monoxide, introduced onto the city's roads.

These can be expected to be seen on First and Stagecoach routes from the beginning of 2014 and a large refuelling station is to be built to service them.

Other hydrogen powered vehicles in the city, such as cars, will be able to use the station for refuelling purposes also.

The fuel will come from a renewable source as Scottish & Southern Energy Power Distribution and BOC will harness wind energy to generate hydrogen and electricity to power the fleet.

Mr Salmond said: "Aberdeen is already Europe's offshore energy capital and this exciting new project can help position it as a leading city for low carbon technology and green transport."

In total there will be 74 low carbon buses introduced to Aberdeen in phases and the project is expected to represent a big step forward in using hydrogen to power public transport as well as exploring the capabilities for it to be stored on a large scale.

Mr Salmond said: "With a strong group of project partners, this initiative will boost Scotland's profile as a key hydrogen technology hub and a world-leading investment location for pioneering low carbon energy and transport systems."

The Scottish Government is well known for its commitment to green energy as it is making good use of the wind and water resources it has to hand.

Posted by Nick Anderson

International Transport News and Sustainable Transport News