A £7million contract has been awarded by Glasgow City Council to two energy companies for the purchase and maintenance of 19 hydrogen fuel powered trucks.

The local authority approved these deals for the 26-ton Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric RCVs (refuse collection vehicles) with Arcola Energy Limited and Farid Hillend Engineering Limited over a five-year period.

At a recent council meeting it was confirmed that the vehicles were expected to be fully operation by October 2022 with the first truck being delivered to the council at the beginning of January next year.

Councillor Jim Kavanagh said: “The purchase of 19 trucks for £7 million is a substantial investment from the council.

“I don’t see anything in the report related to costs for a refuelling hydrogen centre. Would it be in each depot and what would be the cost of that.

“What would be the overall cost of the hydrogen refuel centres? There’s no point in having a vehicle if there’s no charging point for it.”

A council officer confirmed the local authority is looking for an interim and fixed term solution for hydrogen. Figures on the exact cost of charging centres were unable to be produced at that committee but will be brought before a future contracts and property meeting.

The agreement will begin at the end of the month and will be fully supplied by October 31, 2022, under a phased delivery schedule.

Glasgow City Council is happy to have vehicles delivered from January 2022 as long as they are the right type. At least one truck will be delivered per week.

Councillor Jon Molyneux said: “I just want to make sure that when we are procuring hydrogen we are procuring green hydrogen which is produced using renewable energy and not from any other sources.”

A council officer verified that the tender is from green hydrogen and that the council has assurance that there will be a long-term supply from renewable resources.

Further updates on the situation will be presented to members as and when required.