The Port of Hamburg in Germany has opened a test field for hydrogen-powered port logistics. This site will include, a public hydrogen refueling station and the facility will provide the infrastructure which is required to trail equipment. This could be items such as straddle carrier, empty container stackers, forklift trucks, reach stacker, tractor units and trucks.

So far, Hamburger Hafen und Logistik (HHLA) has dedicated their time and effort to collaborating with various firms, with the intention of bringing hydrogen into port logistics. Along with this, trials have already started at the new station and these are being conducted with the use of equipment from Hyster-Yale, VWG Oldenburg and CMB.TECH.

The project has already received funding from the German Government and this funding was worth $3.2m.

Transport Minister, Dr. Volker Wissing, commented that he ‘hopes the “lighthouse project” will give a strong signal.’

HHLA stated that, ‘the new facility within the Container Terminal Tollerot (CTT) would allow it to test the reliability of hydrogen’s use in heavy-duty vehicles within operations.’

CEO of HHLA, Angela Titzrath, commented, “We’re pleased to open the first test field for hydrogen-powered port logistics today. It enables us to test future technologies, gather valuable data and evaluate the results.”

Hyster-Yale’s President of Technology Solutions Division, Dr. Lucien Robroek, added that ‘the company’s hydrogen fuel cell-powered terminal tractor would be tested at the new facility.’ He also mentioned that, “From forklift trucks to tractor units and trucks – the hydrogen infrastructure we are funding here is paving the way for climate-friendly logistics on site.”