A high-level agreement is to be signed in Brussels next week by Aberdeen Council and a European-wide organisation which will boost the city’s hydrogen renewable energy profile.
Aberdeen council currently holds the presidency of HyER, the Hydrogen Organisation for the European Regions
Councillor Barney Crocket, the city’s spokesman on hydrogen, is to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) which seeks to ensure better working relationships for hydrogen fuel cells between regions and industry.
The Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) is a co-operation of representatives from industry, academic, research organisations and public authorities to develop and deploy strategies for fuel cells and hydrogen energy technologies, and its mission is to accelerate the commercialisation of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.
As cities and regions are the main drivers to decarbonise the transport sector, improved coordination of priorities and activities within EU is key to achieving the goal of accelerating the adoption of fuel cells and hydrogen technologies.
Aberdeen is promoting hydrogen energy technologies through schemes such as the Hydrogen Bus Project.
Cllr Crocket said: “It is essential that Aberdeen city and council up to date with current hydrogen and greener energy strategies, locally, nationally and trans-nationally
“It’s also important that Aberdeen is leading on hydrogen and greener energy strategies, and is also seen to be leading on them throughout the EU as it helps to cement the city as energy capital of Europe.”
Meanwhile, Jaguar Land Rover says half of all its new cars will have electric BPV (battery powered vehicle) option by 2020 as it launched its first Jaguar-marque BPV.
The Jaguar I-PACE Concept SUV model is due to hit the streets in 2018 – a sign of how car manufacturers are seeking to tap growing demand for BPVs.
Last year, Jaguar Land Rover said it would double the size of its powertrain engineering centre in central England to support the development of more low-emission vehicles, the fastest growing market for new cars in Britain.
See also:
EXCLUSIVE: ‘Scotland’s Tesla’ drives into de-carbonised transport future with Iceland Foods in £38m BPV (battery-powered vehicles) project
Pixie Energy is an incubator and a facilitator of strategic research and project work, focusing on energy regulation, policy and markets at the local and national level. Find out more about Pixie Energy