The trial of the Terberg hydrogen-powered terminal tractor and mobile hydrogen filling station at PSA Antwerp’s Europa Terminal is the terminal’s latest trial of green technology.
The tractor will be deployed to move containers around the terminal for two weeks under the auspices of the Hydrolog project, a demonstrator set up by the Flanders Institute for Logistics (VIL) to map out possible types of internal hydrogen transport vehicles for the industry.
Reducing emissions
PSA Antwerp’s carbon emissions are produced mainly from diesel-operated equipment such as straddle carriers, terminal tractors and other terminal vehicles.
Besides reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), the company’s longterm aim is to significantly decrease Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and Particle Matters (PM) at its terminals, improving air quality and contributing towards a better quality of life and health in the local community.
The experience gained from this trial will also be put towards other pilots to achieve further terminal decarbonisation.
For example, in its Green Straddle Carrier Program, PSA Antwerp will be setting up a proof of concept with technology partner CMB.TECH to convert diesel engines to dual-fuel (H2-diesel) on straddle carriers.
On 4 May 2021, the European Horizon 2020 Green Deal Call awarded the Program a grant, as part of the PIONEERS consortium (PORTable Innovation Open Network For Efficiency and Emissions Reduction Solutions).
The grant will allow PSA Antwerp to realise two more demonstrator projects: Exploring the injection of up to 90% of hydrogen into the straddle carrier’s combustion engine and testing the performance of a straddle carrier equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell.