Dundee to deploy hydrogen buses

Twelve hydrogen fuel cell electric buses are to hit the streets of Dundee as part of a European project to deliver zero-emission transport.

A number of European cities – including Aberdeen – are taking part in the scheme, deploying a total of 152 zero-emission buses across the continent. Both Scottish cities are taking part through the Scottish Cities Alliance a body set up to attract investment in Scotland’s cities.

Dundee council will be trialling hydrogen buses on the city’s streets

Dundee plans to create a ‘state of the art’ integrated energy park deploying hydrogen fuel cell buses, fleet vehicles and hydrogen and alternative fuels refuelling infrastructure with energy being derived from renewable technologies.

Chair of the Alliance and Leader of Dundee city council, John Alexander, said: “I am delighted that Aberdeen and Dundee have been successful within these ambitious projects.

“Working with the Scottish Cities Alliance, these buses and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure will further progress the decarbonisation of our cities by providing zero emission buses for our citizens.

“Dundee plans to create a ‘state of the art’ integrated energy park deploying hydrogen fuel cell buses, fleet vehicles and hydrogen and alternative fuels refuelling infrastructure with energy being derived from renewable technologies.

“This project will be a ‘first of its kind’ in Scotland combining heat, power and transport.”

Aberdeen

Aberdeen city council has one of the most advanced local authority hydrogen fleets in the country 10 buses, 14 cars (including one taxi) and four vans, and a diesel dual-fuel road sweeper which has recently been handed over to the authority (see airqualitynews.com story).

Both authorities are a part of the EU’s JIVE project, set up in 2017, which has been supported by a €25 million in grant funding, and is a public-private partnership aiming at accelerating commercialisation of fuel cells and hydrogen technologies.

Other cities to have been involved in the project include Köln, Wuppertal and Rhein-Main in Germany, South Tyrol in Italy, Riga in Latvia and Slagelse in Denmark.