The UK’s first hydrogen production and bus refuelling station in Aberdeen has reached a major milestone – its 1,000th refuel.
The facility, based at Aberdeen City Council’s Kittybrewster depot, opened in March and provides fuel for Europe’s largest fleet of hydrogen fuel cell buses running on the streets of the city.
The refuelling station is owned and operated by BOC, a Member of the Linde Group, and has been delivered as part of the Aberdeen City Council-led £19million green transport demonstration project which is testing the economic and environmental benefits of hydrogen transport technologies and aims to drive the development of hydrogen technologies.
The hydrogen buses only emit water vapour, reducing carbon emissions and air pollution, as well as being quieter and smoother to run than diesel vehicles.
The Aberdeen Hydrogen Bus Project, which has backing from Europe, the UK Government and the Scottish Government, as well as a broad range of private sector partners, is the most high-profile of a range of projects designed to create a hydrogen economy in the city.
It is delivering a hydrogen infrastructure in Aberdeen, including the production of hydrogen at the UK’s first commercial-scale hydrogen production and bus refuelling station, as well as a purpose-built hydrogen fuel cell vehicle maintenance facility.
Aberdeen City Council Chairman of European Hydrogen and Electromobility Projects Councillor Barney Crocket said: “This is a major milestone for the project and it’s great to see the 1,000th refuel at the station at Kittybrewster.
“It is fantastic for the city to be at the forefront of this project and helps to solidify our reputation as Europe’s energy capital.
“We look forward to many more milestones on this tremendous project.”
The hydrogen production and refuelling station fuels 10 Van Hool hydrogen fuel cell buses – six of which are operated by Stagecoach on the X17 Aberdeen city centre to Westhill route, while First Aberdeen operates four on the X40 Kingswells to Bridge of Don park-and-ride route.
First Aberdeen managing director David Phillips said: "We are pleased to have played a key part in reaching this milestone for the ground-breaking hydrogen project. We are proud to be a partner in the trial of hydrogen technology in Aberdeen and look forward to achieving many more successes in the months to come."
Stagecoach North Scotland managing director Steve Walker said: "It is fantastic to see the project reaching another milestone. We have had a lot of positive feedback from our customers on the hydrogen buses and are proud to be part of the project."