The Scottish Government have pledged £3million towards expanding Aberdeen’s hydrogen bus fleet.
The extra funds will be used to buy ten new “green” vehicles as the city aims to build an international reputation for the use of the fuel.
News of the boost came on day 170 energy experts from across Europe descended on the Granite City – Europe’s oil and gas for the H2 summit – on the increasingly-popular energy form.
Last month the council opened a second hydrogen fuelling station in Cove.
The £2.6million project will serve the city’s expanding fleet of cars and vans.
A letter from the Scottish minister for business, innovation and energy Paul Wheelhouse to council chief executive Angela confirms the investment adding that Holyrood had already invested £4million into the project.
Last night, council hydrogen leader Barney Crockett said there was a “lot of enthusiasm” across Europe for developing the new technology in Aberdeen.
He said: “The journey now will be going from being a world leader in oil and gas to the hydrogen leader in Europe.
“People from all over Europe have come to this summit which shows how our reputation is growing abroad.
“It’s a developing technology, large energy companies are increasingly looking into this.”
SNP group leader Stephen Flynn said the announcement was “brilliant news for Aberdeen”.
He said: “£3million from the Scottish Government takes their total investment in Hydrogen buses in Aberdeen to £7million and will help to bolster Aberdeen’s place as a world leader in fuel cell technologies.
“We are, of course, still waiting for the bus operators to come on board too and I would urge them to do everything they can to ensure that the commitment we now have from Scottish Government does not go to waste.”
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