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Dundee is to get 12 hydrogen fuel cell buses in a bid to reduce emissions in the city as part of ambitious plans to promote environmentally-friendly transport.

Both Dundee and Aberdeen are receiving the environmentally-friendly vehicles as part of a Europe-wide project to deploy 152 hydrogen fuel cell buses across 14 cities.

The buses produce no emissions and are quieter than regular buses. Aberdeen already has 10 in use and will receive another 10 as part of the new deal, making it one of the largest fleets in Europe.

The cities are involved through their membership of the Scottish Cities Alliance, which is the collaboration of Scotland’s seven cities and the Scottish Government working to promote the country’s economic potential.

Coordinated by consultants Element Energy and supported by a €25m grant from the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU), the JIVE 2 project will deploy 152 fuel cell electric buses across cities in France, Germany, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands and the UK.

Dundee City Council leader and Scottish Cities Alliance chairman John Alexander said: “I am delighted that Aberdeen and Dundee have been successful within these ambitious projects.

“Working with the Scottish Cities Alliance, these buses and hydrogen refuelling infrastructure will further progress the decarbonisation of our cities by providing zero emission buses for our citizens.”

© DC Thomson

The SNP councillor said the buses are just the start of a bigger project to promote the use of more environmentally friendly transport in Dundee.

He said: “Dundee plans to create a ‘state of the art’ integrated energy park deploying hydrogen fuel cell buses, fleet vehicles and hydrogen and alternative fuels refuelling infrastructure with energy being derived from renewable technologies.

“This project will be a first of its kind in Scotland combining heat, power and transport.

“We would like to build strong relationships with private sector partners both European and internationally on how we can work together on future projects, so this is the first step in what we hope will be a very positive story for hydrogen bus fleets across Scotland’s cities.”