Gibson hosts event on hydrogen future

News release
For Immediate Use
15/09/09
Highlands and Islands SNP MSP Rob Gibson has hailed the potential of a hydrogen future in Scotland.

Mr Gibson was speaking before he hosted a reception in Parliament for key industry players which coincided with the Scotland's Hydrogen Future Conference (taking place at the Scottish Government's Victoria Quay HQ).

Among the issues being discussed is a proposal from Findhorn based CIFAL (the United Nations Institute for Training and Research affiliated training centre for Northern Europe) for a 'Hydrogen Corridor' which would run from Aberdeen to Inverness via Findhorn. The corridor would consist of diversity of renewable energy solutions in different locations, with hydrogen refueling stations placed at strategic locations along the route. These stations would service, public transport and local authority vehicles, Royal Mail vans with an ultimate goal of private vehicles.

"The hydrogen corridor is a revolutionary and ground breaking plan which could put Scotland in the forefront of the providing for the future of motorised travel. Credit has to go to those that who are pushing forward this hydrogen corridor which will make it easier for hydrogen vehicles to travel. It shows that the North and East are ahead of the game when it comes to preparing for the future."

"Royal Mail are already in early stages of developing a van which will run on hydrogen and hope to roll the designs out to the rest of Europe. The message from the conference is that a hydrogen future will be here sooner rather than later."

Mr Gibson also said that he was encouraged by the a letter of understanding by major car firms, Daimler, Ford, Renault/Nissan, GM/Opel, Honda, Toyota and Hyndia/Kia to oil companies calling for a greater hydrogen infrastructure by 2015 (starting In Europe and consisting of hydrogen corridors) to help complement the increase in hydrogen vehicles which the companies are promising.

"It is clear that in the near future there will be far more cars powered by hydrogen. So as the first petrol cars needed petrol station hydrogen cars will need hydrogen filling stations. So these corridors will be the petrol station of tomorrow. It is good to see the letter of understanding between such big names in the industry setting out to the oil companies what is needed. It is also good to see Scotland wanting to be part of it."

He continued…

"The conference and reception is a chance to get some of the major hydrogen players together and help map out the future. Hydrogen development can make a real difference to many people at a local community level. The Pure project on Unst is one example."

"Hydrogen is likely to be a mainstay in the world energy markets. It is an exciting future which will shape our lives."

ENDS