BP partners with Aberdeen City Council for hydrogen hub

Aberdeen City Council has decided BP as its preferred bidder for a commercial partnership to accelerate the city’s ambitions to become a world-class hydrogen hub.

Following a robust tender process that started in June, the Aberdeen Hydrogen Hub concept will enable the continued development of a hydrogen economy in the city. As the preferred bidder, BP will now work with Aberdeen City Council to conclude the contractual process, leading to the set-up of the joint venture. Work will then commence on the required front end engineering design (Feed) work to make a final investment decision on the selected development concept in 2023.

The aim is to create Scotland’s first scalable green hydrogen production facility. Phase 1, which involves the delivery of a green hydrogen facility, targets first operations from 2024. The partnership will explore options to use power sourced 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.

Future phases could then see production scaled up through further investment to supply larger volumes of hydrogen for rail, freight and marine, and potential hydrogen exports. This would be enabled by the expected increased availability of local renewable energy sources, including offshore wind developments that emerge from the ScotWind leasing round.

The Aberdeen Hydrogen Hub programme will support Aberdeen City Council’s ambitions to create a climate positive city and build inclusive growth through supporting hydrogen supply chain development, skills and training, and wider community benefits.

Aberdeen has already demonstrated how demand can be created within cities. More than two million passengers have travelled on the city’s hydrogen buses, and CO2 savings to date are over 100 tonnes over the last six years.