Council bosses will explore plans to create a “Hydrogen Valley” in Aberdeen.

The new concept, to combine hydrogen energy with transport and heat, has been considered by councillors.

Members of Aberdeen City Council’s city growth and resources committee were told that, following an upgrade of the hydrogen refuelling station in Kittybrewster, Toyota is eyeing the city as the first UK location to sell hydrogen cars.

A Hydrogen Valley, or Hub, is being considered as energy provider SGN is working on a proposed Hydrogen 100 project to determine the feasibility to use the chemical element for domestic heating systems.

Councillors also gave the go-ahead for five additional hydrogen buses to be purchased.

These would be purchased from the UK Joint Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus contract framework at no additional cost to the council.