Chamber and committees

The National Transport Strategy Delivery Plan details how we will support the research and development of hydrogen as alternative fuel across the various modes of transport in Scotland. For ferries it is recognised that hydrogen is some way from being cost competitive and the technology at this time does have its limitations. However, the Scottish Government is engaging with partners and stakeholders and monitoring progress in the development of both hydrogen and ammonia fuelled systems. For example we are aware of a recently commissioned vessel in Norway that will have a hydrogen fuel cell/battery hybrid propulsion system. Such technological advances will allow us to continue to provide our longer lifeline ferry services where electrification is not an option.

The Scottish Government is also supporting the Hydrogen Accelerator programme at St. Andrews University that is linking academic, public and commercial interests in the development and deployment of hydrogen technologies and projects. Transport Scotland officials have engaged with their counterparts both domestically and in other European countries to learn from their experiences so that when the time comes Scotland will not be left behind in achieving our zero emission objective.

We will also set out a framework by 2022 for enabling and delivering infrastructure to underpin Scotland’s move to a zero emission transport system, including working with partners to support and promote the development of hydrogen for public transport, including ferries.