bp selected as preferred bidder for Scottish hydrogen partnership

Following a robust tender process which commenced in June 2021, the Aberdeen Hydrogen Hub concept will enable the continued development of a hydrogen economy in the city.

A key part of the programme will involve the creation of one of Scotland’s first scalable green hydrogen production facilities. Phase 1, which involves delivery of a green hydrogen facility, is targeting first operations from 2024.

As a result, options could include using power drawn from a new photovoltaic (PV) 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, as well as supply of hydrogen for heat and potentially export. 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. A study commissioned by Aberdeen City Council on the growth in demand for hydrogen power estimates that if the hydrogen hub enables the export of renewable hydrogen, then 700 skilled jobs could be created in the hydrogen industry by 2030.

Aberdeen City Council embarked upon its hydrogen journey more than 10 years ago and has already demonstrated how demand can be created within cities, using the zero emission fuel to power a fleet of 25 buses, 60 public sector vehicles and waste trucks, as well as the P&J Live events complex. More than 2 million passengers have travelled on the city’s hydrogen buses, and CO₂ savings to date are in excess of 100 t over the last six years.

As the preferred bidder, bp will now work with Aberdeen City Council to conclude the contractual process which will lead to the set-up of the joint venture (JV). Work will then commence on the required front end engineering design (FEED) work, with the aim of making a final investment decision (FID) on the selected development concept in 2023.

Partnering with cities and corporates as they shape their own paths to net-zero is a core part of bp’s strategy introduced in August 2020. Over the next decade, the company expects to partner with 10 - 15 cities globally to provide innovative, integrated ‎and decarbonised energy solutions at scale to help them achieve their goals of net-zero emissions.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalhydrogenreview.com/special-reports/26102021/bp-selected-as-preferred-bidder-for-scottish-hydrogen-partnership/