The Port of Valencia hosted the final conference of the H2Ports project, which allowed for the presentation of the results of the first European pilot of port machinery powered by hydrogen.
The pioneering initiative has enabled the testing in real operations of a ReachStacker and a 4×4 terminal tractor powered by the alternative fuel, as well as a mobile supply station for this clean fuel.
The event brought together 30 speakers and more than 150 participants. During the visit to the pilots developed within the framework of the project, the public was able to observe up close the prototype hydrogen fuel cell ReachStacker designed and produced by Hyster-Yale and tested in real operations at MSC Terminal Valencia.
This ReachStacker has been designed to match the performance of its diesel equivalent, both in lifting capacity and operational speed. Its design combines a fuel cell with an electric traction system and independent hydraulic motors, allowing for efficient energy management even in the most demanding tasks.
Equipped with four high-pressure hydrogen tanks compatible with international standards, the vehicle can operate for a full shift – and even up to two – on a single refueling. Furthermore, it has received very positive feedback from stevedores, who highlight its performance, comfort, and a quieter, vibration-free, and locally emission-free driving experience.
Attendees were also able to learn in detail about the world’s first hydrogen-powered port terminal tractor, converted from a diesel unit. The vehicle conversion was carried out by Atena with the support of Enea, the Parthenope University of Naples, and Grimaldi Euromed, to be subsequently tested at Valencia Terminal Europa, part of the Grimaldi Group.
This is a prototype port vehicle with a hybrid propulsion system that combines a 70 kW fuel cell, supplied by Ballard, a 25 kWh battery, and four high-pressure hydrogen tanks, allowing it to operate for a full shift without local emissions.
One of the main challenges of this pilot was developing an intelligent energy management strategy that optimized the combined use of the hydrogen fuel cell and the battery, maintaining efficient and durable performance.
These pilot tests have demonstrated that hydrogen technology can be seamlessly integrated into high-demand port operations, replacing fossil fuels without compromising efficiency, safety, or operator comfort.
Finally, participants had the opportunity to learn up close about the operation of the hydrogen refueling station. The location of the two pilot vehicles in different terminals of the port posed the need for a flexible solution: a mobile hydrogen refueling station.
This innovative mobile unit was custom-designed by the National Hydrogen Centre – CNH2 and operated by Carburos Metálicos (part of the Air Products group), the partner responsible for supplying renewable hydrogen for the project.
The refueling station consists of two subsystems: a fixed unit, integrating the compressor and storage system, and a mobile unit, equipped with high-pressure cascade tanks and a dispenser.
This solution is capable of refueling both hydrogen-powered vehicles in a single day, guaranteeing flexibility, operational autonomy, and high safety standards. The station supplies hydrogen at pressures of 300 and 450 bar, with a capacity of up to 55 kg per day and a maximum dispensing speed of up to 3.6 kg per minute, enabling agile and efficient refueling, one of the main competitive advantages of hydrogen in port environments.
This mobile hydrogen refueling station concept has proven to be technically and operationally viable, offering a scalable model for implementing hydrogen in other complex and highly regulated contexts, such as ports.
“This project reaffirms our commitment to decarbonization. It is a cornerstone of our broader strategy to become a zero-emission port. We are fully aligned with the principles of the European Green Deal, the Fit for 55 legislative package, and the objectives of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership. We envision a port that is not only a key logistics node but also an engine of innovation, a living laboratory where industry, science, and public policies converge to accelerate the energy transition and lead the change towards a low-carbon economy,” commented Mar Chao, President of the Valencia Port Authority.
For her part, Valerie Bouillon-Delporte, Executive Director of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, highlighted that “H2Ports is a concrete example of how EU funding and cooperation can accelerate the decarbonization of critical infrastructure. H2Ports demonstrates that ports can become catalysts for clean mobility, industrial transition, and new energy value chains. The Clean Hydrogen Partnership is proud to have supported this pioneering work, which sets a benchmark for ports across Europe in their transition from pilot projects to large-scale hydrogen adoption.”
“This project also reflects our entity’s commitment to advancing hydrogen solutions for port operations, ranging from container handling equipment and shore power supply from fuel cells, to the safety of liquid hydrogen supply and the development of integrated hydrogen ecosystems in ports and coastal industrial areas,” she added.
Antonio Torregrosa, General Director of the Valenciaport Foundation, assessed that “from the Valenciaport Foundation we continue to work firmly with our cluster to boost the competitiveness of the Port of Valencia through innovation. We are implementing and testing different technologies that have consolidated the port as an international benchmark in sustainability, digitalization, and operational efficiency.”
The availability of European funding mechanisms makes innovation in ports a reality”.
The European project “H2Ports- Implementing Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Technologies in Ports” coordinated by the Fundación Valenciaport, in close collaboration with the Autoridad Portuaria de Valencia, and funded by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership programme, has as its main objective to test and validate hydrogen technologies in port machinery to enable applicable and real solutions without affecting the performance and safety of port operations and producing zero local emissions.
The H2Ports project has involved a total investment of 4 million euros and, in addition to the Fundación Valenciaport and the Autoridad Portuaria de Valencia, the participants include the Centro Nacional del Hidrógeno, and the private companies MSC Terminal Valencia, Grupo Grimaldi, Hyster-Yale, ATENA Distretto Alta Tecnologia Energia Ambiente, Ballard Power Systems Europe, Carburos Metálicos (Air Products group) and Enagás.
