‘Hydrogen highway’ will transform North-east

AMBITIOUS proposals were unveiled yesterday to create Scotland’s first “hydrogen highway” as part of a £750 million drive for a global energy technology corridor, stretching from Aberdeen to Peterhead.

The establishment of the “Energetica” corridor, hugging the Aberdeenshire coast, is set to play a key role in plans by ACSEF, the local economic forum, to transform the oil-dependent north-east of Scotland into a world leader in the development of renewable energy as well as hydrocarbon resources.

ACSEF announced yesterday that the development of the 30-mile corridor was ahead of schedule with 30 per cent of the £750m investment potential already under way, and the development of almost 600 acres of new business space.

Sara Budge, the Energetica project director, revealed that research work was now being tendered to explore the feasibility of using geothermal and hydrogen for combined heat and power plants for the key buildings within the corridor.

The project team are also planning to pave the way for the country’s first hydrogen highway. She explained: “A bid has been lodged for European funding to look at the development of hydrogen buses and a world-first in hydrogen coaches to deliver low-carbon transport from Aberdeen up to Peterhead as a pilot Scotland.

“The initiative includes a significant local transport player, bus manufacturers and energy companies.”

FRANK URQUHART