Decarbonisation in harbour and interport logistics is a necessary route to greater sustainability.
In general, a significant share of total CO₂ emissions nowadays concerns the transport sector.
Consequently, mobility is one of the sectors that needs the most investment in decarbonising road transport and in the energy transition by making vehicles and systems more efficient.
Hydrogen from renewable sources represents a very promising alternative solution for sustainable mobility applications.
While there is increasing talk of fuel cell vehicles (FCEVs), it should not be forgotten that hydrogen will have a major impact especially on long-haul freight transport and shipping.
Therefore, to initiate the development of a hydrogen supply chain in the long-distance transport sector, it is important to think about the:
Let us now go into detail and see what the situation is in the current market.
Hydrogen applications in port logistics
Why is it important to talk about hydrogen applications in harbor logistics?
First of all because the IMO, the United Nations International Maritime Organisation, has set a target for the maritime industry to halve its greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
To this end, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., part of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group, has built a multi-gas ship capable of containing GPL and ammonia.
In addition, it has realised a project that can adapt very large gas ships for the future use of ammonia as the main fuel source.
Ammonia can be produced from hydrogen and provides a potential solution for transporting hydrogen in large volumes.
In fact, when pressurised at room temperature, ammonia becomes liquid just like GPL.
Secondly, it is important to talk about hydrogen applications in port logistics because ports can become excellent energy hubs.
Ports are, in fact, articulated realities where logistics chains and industrial processes intertwine.
Consequently, they could become the ideal stage for experimenting with the use of hydrogen in different logistics contexts.
The company Sapio, for example, has a dual vision of ports: on the one hand, they can play the role of hydrogen valley and, on the other, they can be hubs for hydrogen imports.
For this reason, the company has signed a cooperation agreement with the Port System Authority and the Hydrogen Park in Marghera.
Specifically, the project involves the construction of a renewable hydrogen production plant in Porto Marghera.
In addition, it is also evaluating the possibility of importing green ammonia produced in Saudi Arabia through Porto Marghera
Another example of hydrogen applications linked to port logistics is the port of Valencia.
Specifically, the use of hydrogen to power port vehicles is being tested in the Spanish harbor.
In particular, this system consists of the following parts:
- mobile refuelling plant
- reach stacker with fuel cell propulsion for container handling
- yard tractor with fuel cell propulsion for handling rolling cargoes
Hydrogen applications in dry port logistics
Alongside port logistics, another important area for decarbonisation is that of hydrogen applications in freight village logistics.
Specifically, hydrogen is now at the centre of the thoughts of many players in the macro-area of transport, mobility and logistics.
For example, the company LC3 Trasporti is investing in hydrogen-powered trucks: the Nikola TRE FCEV models.
In this way, the company intends to accelerate the path to zero emissions in long-distance applications.
The five Nikola TRE FCEV trucks have a 6×2 configuration with a single eAxle with 480 kW of continuous power and an added rear steering axle.
The cylinders in the truck are capable of holding up to 70 kg of hydrogen at 700 bar pressure. In this way they generate, via the fuel cells, enough energy for an estimated range of 800 km and refuelling times of 20 minutes.
At Simplifhy we design and realise complete solutions for the production and use of hydrogen, with the aim of making our contribution to the creation of green mobility.
Contact usfor more information.
