Scotland to see first hydrogen buses by 2014

A project which aims to have a fleet of 10 hydrogen fuelled buses operating in Aberdeen by early 2014 has been launched by the Scottish Government.


The fleet will be refuelled at Scotland’s first commercial-scale hydrogen refuelling station owned and operated by industrial gases and clean energy business BOC.

Launching the programme at Aberdeen’s Marischal Hall, Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond said: “Hydrogen buses will produce zero local emissions. 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.

The hydrogen will be produced by electrolysis, the electricity for which will be harnessed by a local wind farm. The stored hydrogen for the bus fleet will be converted back into electricity to supplement mains supplies at times of peak demand.

The programme includes funding from the Scottish government, Scottish Enterprise and the Technology Strategy Board.

BOC is part of the Linde Group which has installed more than 80 hydrogen fuelling stations in 15 different countries.

BOC Innovation Manager for Hydrogen Systems, Nick Rolf noted: “This will be the UK’s largest demonstration of hydrogen fuel cell buses and cements Aberdeen’s position as a pioneer in the field of low carbon mobility. The project will also provide a template for the production of hydrogen from renewable sources on a scale that is unmatched elsewhere in the UK.”

Conor McGlone

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