BP Aberdeen Hydrogen Energy Limited, a joint venture between bp and Aberdeen City Council, has announced it is seeking tenders for hydrogen electrolyser and compression, storage, and dispensation equipment. The joint venture aims to produce the first hydrogen fuel by the third quarter of 2024, which will fuel 25 buses and a range of other fleet vehicles. The tender is for the first phase of the Aberdeen Hydrogen Hub, which is to develop a green hydrogen production and transport refuelling facility powered by a solar farm.
The scalable green hydrogen production, storage, and distribution facility will include compression, conditioning, and storage as required, as well as a refueling and dispensing hub for vehicles. The facility will also allow for hydrogen import facilities to be added in future phases to supply larger volumes of green hydrogen for rail, freight, and marine, as well as for heat and export. Expansion of the facility will be enabled by the expected increase in availability of local renewable energy sources, including offshore wind production from the ScotWind offshore wind leasing round.
Aberdeen City Council estimates that if the hydrogen hub enables the export of renewable hydrogen, up to 700 skilled jobs could be created in the hydrogen industry by 2030. The joint venture aims to develop a supply chain, develop new skills and jobs, and set an example for how councils implement plans to reach net-zero.
Dr Oliver Taylor, the incoming Chief Executive for bp Aberdeen Hydrogen Energy Limited, said the joint venture aims to stimulate demand for hydrogen and help the people and businesses of Aberdeen secure value through the energy transition. Aberdeen City Council has a developing hydrogen economy with 85 hydrogen-powered vehicles deployed across the city, refuelling infrastructure, and a joint venture company with bp to deliver the hydrogen production and distribution hub. The next phase will see the production of green hydrogen on a larger scale in response to growing demand and maintain Aberdeen’s position at the forefront of the UK and Scotland’s transition to renewable energy.
Overall, the joint venture between bp and Aberdeen City Council is a significant step towards establishing a green hydrogen production and distribution hub in the UK. The facility will have the capacity to fuel a fleet of vehicles, with potential for further expansion to meet the growing demand for green hydrogen in the transport, rail, freight, marine, and heat sectors. The development of the hydrogen hub is an important step towards achieving net-zero carbon emissions, which is a major priority for the UK government and global community.
