The H2Ports project is an initiative of the Port of Valencia in line with its strategy of port-logistics decarbonisation, reduction of port carbon footprint and adoption of alternative fuels, which facilitate the transition of ports towards zero-emission operations. H2Ports is the first European project focused on testing heavy-duty port equipment powered with Hydrogen Fuel Cells, being also the first port in Europe able to supply this alternative fuel by means of Hydrogen supply infrastructures. The project is funded by the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) with 4 million €, and is leaded by the Fundación Valenciaport, the research and innovation centre of the Valencia port cluster. The Port Authority of Valencia is an active partner.
H2Ports aims to boost the transition of the international port industry towards an effective zero-emission and safe operative model, piloting, evaluating and demonstrating new FC technologies oriented to increase energy efficiency, decarbonisation and safety of port terminals. The main objective is to deploy port equipment equipped with FC technologies and the use of hydrogen as zero-emission fuel through innovative market sided solutions to be ready for market adoption by the end of the project.
The project will demonstrate and validate by means of real life trials in two cargo terminals of the port of Valencia (MSC Terminal Valencia and Valencia Terminal Europe), an integrated set of two innovative equipment based on FC technologies implemented in last-generation port machinery besides a hydrogen mobile supply station specifically designed for the project. The prototypes selected are a container handling reach stacker and a terminal tug master used in ro-ro operations.
H2Ports will facilitate to bridge the existing gaps between research development and industrial application in this strategic sector, thus contributing to implement and deploy clean and low-carbon technologies in the port-logistic sector.