BOC to fuel Scotland’s first fleet of hydrogen buses 22 August 2012

BOC, the industrial gases firm, is to provide the refuelling technology for Scotland's first fleet of hydrogen-powered buses.

The project, which includes funding from the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, the Technology Strategy Board and the European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, aims to have 10 buses operating in Aberdeen by 2014.

Launching the programme at Aberdeen's Marischal Hall, Scotland's first minister Alex Salmond said: "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.

"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."

For BOC, the project represents another stage in establishing hydrogen power as a viable transport option in the UK.

"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," comments Nick Rolf, BOC innovation manager for hydrogen systems.

"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."

No details are available yet for the choice of hydrogen-powered bus manufacturers, but they will be operated on First and Stagecoach bus routes and refuelled at Scotland's first commercial-scale hydrogen refuelling station, which will be owned and operated by BOC.

A novel aspect of this project is that the hydrogen will be produced by electrolysis. A 1MWe electrolyser provided by BOC will split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Scottish & Southern Energy Power Distribution (SSEPD) will work with BOC to harness the electricity from a nearby wind farm to power the electrolyser which will also operate in a grid balancing capacity.

The hydrogen produced will be stored for use with the bus fleet but can be converted back to electricity to supplement mains supplies at times of peak demand.

Brian Tinham

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