Hydrogen dual fuel straddle carrier first

The H2 dual fuel straddle carrier runs on a mix of hydrogen and diesel and will play an important role in reducing terminal greenhouse gas emissions.

“Ports have already been identified as hotspots for hydrogen technology. Because of the heavy use of straddle carriers, dual fuel technology can offer the right balance between lowering emissions and retaining operational performance, robustness and cost-effectiveness,” said Roy Campe, CTO of CMB.TECH.

”We are happy to test and work with PSA for hydrogen-powered port equipment. We are hereby taking a first step away from diesel in the heavy-duty container terminal segment.”

Carbon reduction

CMB.TECH, the Antwerp-based cleantech company, was responsible for integrating the technology and related expertise to design and build this first prototype, in collaboration with ATS and equipment manufacturers.

The dual fuel technology is able to replace 70% of diesel consumption by injecting hydrogen into the carrier’s diesel combustion engine. There is the with the eventual goal of running the engine on 100% hydrogen injection.

The partners will now start testing the dual fuel straddle carrier’s performance in live operations at PSAA’s Noordzee Terminal. They will evaluate how to improve the design of the equipment, as well as other factors that are necessary to scale up this new technology, including the supply and storage of hydrogen for an entire fleet.

This next stage is supported by PIONEERS, a project funded by the EU and coordinated by the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. It is part of the Horizon 2020 program which supports and promotes the development of specific solutions to reduce carbon emissions in the port sector, with the aim of transforming ports into green infrastructures by 2050.

These tests with the first dual fuel hydrogen straddle carrier prototypes are part of the MPET & PSAA Green Straddle Carrier Program, in which the terminal operators are holistically evaluating four major technological pathways to significantly reduce these vehicles’ carbon emissions in their actual working environment: hydrogen, biofuel, hybrid battery/diesel and full electrification.

Which solution the partners will eventually scale up depends on the test results.