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£3.3m for Aberdeen hydrogen hub
Transportation, Aug 17 2012 (The Hydrogen Journal)
- £3.3m funding has been agreed to build a hydrogen energy hub in Aberdeen, Scotland.
The Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise have each committed "up to" £1.65 million to support the project, and there is also funding from the European Commission and UK Technology Strategy Board.
It will be used to purchase 10 hydrogen fuel cell buses, which will be operated on First and StageCoach bus routes in Aberdeen in early 2014.
There will be a hydrogen fuelling station, which can also be used to power hydrogen passenger cars.
Aberdeen is an ideal place for a major hydrogen bus project, since as well as being one of Europe's biggest oil and gas capital, it is also has 2 of the world's largest public transport companies nearby. First Group is still headquartered in Aberdeen, and StageCoach Group is based nearby in Perth.
A hydrogen generation and distribution system will be developed by Scottish & Southern Energy Power Distribution (SSEPD), working with industrial gases and clean energy technologies business BOC, aiming to generate the hydrogen from wind power.
"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," said Scotland first minister Alex Salmond.
"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."
Project partners include the City Council, Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE), First Group, StageCoach, Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group, Ballard Power Systems, BOC, Scotia Gas Networks and (bus manufacturer) Van Hool.
Barney Crockett commented: "This funding is a vital contribution to Aberdeen City Council and its partners' work to introduce a fleet of hydrogen buses to the area.
"I believe this initiative will stimulate further innovative hydrogen technology projects and attract even more high-level investment to this city. It is a crucial step towards Aberdeen becoming a world-leading, smart hydrogen city," said Barney Crockett, Aberdeen City Council leader.
