Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) has commissioned Linde Engineering to build a H₂ filling station within the scope of its Clean Port & Logistics innovation cluster. The filling station will be part of the test center for H₂-powered port logistics at the Container Terminal Tollerort in the Port of Hamburg.

The H₂ filling station is being developed within the scope of HHLA's Clean Port & Logistics cluster to fuel H₂-powered heavy goods vehicles and terminal equipment and to test them in operation. HHLA will operate the filling station as part of its cluster activities in the Port of Hamburg. Linde Engineering and HHLA are thus creating a reliable refueling infrastructure for heavy equipment in the Port of Hamburg. The filling station is expected to begin operation in 2023.

The heart of the filling station is an energy-efficient high-pressure ionic compressor that compresses the H₂ up to 450 bar. This will allow equipment such as straddle carriers, empty container stackers, forklift trucks, reach stackers, terminal tractor units and trucks to be refueled with H₂ efficiently. Moreover, the filling station incorporates various options for expansion.

"Our commissioning of Linde Engineering to build the H₂ filling station is the next milestone for our H₂ activities in the Clean Port & Logistics cluster. With the construction of the filling station, the required infrastructure is now being created to speed up the transition to emissions-free heavy goods logistics and port operations, and to drive forward the decarbonization of logistics," said Dr. Georg Böttner, head of the HHLA H₂ Network.

"We are delighted to support this forward-looking project with our technology. Efficient, and most importantly, safe refueling of various H₂ vehicles is essential for sustainable and seamless port operations," said Dr. Alexander Unterschütz, Executive Vice President Components, Linde Engineering.

HHLA established Clean Port & Logistics (CPL) as an innovation cluster to test H₂-powered equipment in port logistics. The aim of the project is to examine how H₂ can be used to reliably supply power to harbor technology and port logistics. HHLA is working with partner companies from around the world to develop solutions to bring H₂-powered heavy goods vehicles and terminal equipment to market quickly and to put in place the measures necessary for their use.

The concepts developed for operation, safety, repair, maintenance, refueling and supply are tested and optimized in practical operation. The heart of the CPL innovation cluster is a test center at HHLA Container Terminal Tollerort in Hamburg, where H₂-powered equipment can be tested on actual port handling operations and heavy goods transport.

The cluster is sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure as part of a national innovation program for H₂ and fuel cell technology. The funding guidelines are coordinated by NOW GmbH and implemented by Project Management Jülich.