Aberdeen City Council partner with BP on Hydrogen
The joint venture will see a energy hub with solar power, green hydrogen production and refueling for public transport
Last updated 25th Oct 2021
Aberdeen City Council has announced a partnership with energy giant BP for hydrogen projects.
BP were the preferred bidder for the commercial partnership as the city looks to become a world-class hub of hydrogen.
A key part of the partnership will involved the creation of Scotland's first scalable green hydrogen production facility - with the first part of a green hydrogen unit targeted for first operations in 2024.
It's hoped 700 skilled jobs could be created as a result.
As a result, options could include using power drawn from a new photovoltaic solar farm, green power purchase agreements and a private wire grid connection to generate hydrogen for buses, heavy goods vehicles and large vans.
Aberdeen City Council Leader, Councillor Jenny Laing said: “This is a huge announcement for Aberdeen. It paves the way for the city to be a world leader in the production of hydrogen-based green fuel and energy.
“It will help create a cleaner, more sustainable city for local people and it also provides us with the opportunity to create hundreds of skilled jobs and add millions to the Aberdeen economy.
“There is tremendous investment potential, and we already have deep-rooted skills and experience in the energy sector to tap into.
“Aberdeen has a worldwide reputation as a pioneering hydrogen city with a net zero emissions vision. We are already leading the way to a greener, cleaner future and working with bp, we intend to put Aberdeen at the forefront of the green economic recovery.
“We already have a successful partnership with bp, who have advised the Council on the delivery of our Energy Transition Strategic Infrastructure Plan and this exciting announcement builds on that work.”
Louise Kingham OBE, bp’s UK head of country and senior vice president for Europe, added: “bp wants to play a leading role in Scotland’s energy transition as is evidenced by this news and our transformational bid in the ScotWind offshore wind leasing round.
“These new business opportunities are underpinned by our 50-plus years of operations in the North Sea where, based out of Aberdeen, we have built up vast skills and experience that are directly transferable to emerging energy industries.
“We look forward to working with Aberdeen City Council on this exciting project and are pleased that - following the competitive and robust public procurement process – we were able to position bp as the partner of choice.”
Aberdeen City Council embarked upon its hydrogen journey more than 10 years ago and has already demonstrated how demand can be created within cities, using the zero emission fuel to power a fleet of 25 buses, 60 public sector vehicles and waste trucks, as well as the P&J Live events complex. More than two million passengers have travelled on the city’s hydrogen buses, and CO2 savings to date are in excess of 100 tonnes over the last six years.
Aberdeen City Council’s Convenor for City Growth & Resources, Councillor Ryan Houghton, said: “We’re proud that hydrogen is already here in Aberdeen and this significant commercial partnership with bp is set to support our ambitions. We plan to create a blueprint which can be replicated around the world by the cities and regions looking to reach net zero.”