First marks hydrogen bus refuelling station milestone

First Aberdeen commercial manager Daniel Laird (left) and Stagecoach North Scotland depot controller Daryl Mitchell (right), with Aberdeen City Council Chairman of European Hydrogen and Electromobility Projects Councillor Barney Crocket, at the hydrogen bus refuelling station at Kittybrewster.

Bus operator First has marked the 1,000^th hydrogen bus refuel at the UK’s first production and refuelling station of its type in Aberdeen.

From left: First Aberdeen commercial manager Daniel Laird, Aberdeen City Council Chairman of European Hydrogen and Electromobility Projects Councillor Barney Crocket and Stagecoach North Scotland depot controller Daryl Mitchell.

The hydrogen bus refuelling centre, based in Aberdeen, is part of a £19 million local council 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 facility, owned and operated by BOC, opened in March 2015 and is based at Aberdeen City Council’s Kittybrewster depot providing fuel for Europe’s largest fleet of hydrogen fuel cell buses.

The 10 hydrogen buses, which are operated by First Aberdeen in the city along with Stagecoach, 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 designed to test the economic and environmental benefits of hydrogen transport technologies

The Aberdeen Hydrogen Bus Project, backed by Europe, the UK and Scottish Government’s and sector partners, is the most high-profile of a range of projects designed to create a hydrogen economy in the city.

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 all 10 Van Hool hydrogen fuel cell buses. 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.”