PSA Antwerp said it is participating in the trial of a Terberg hydrogen-powered terminal tractor and mobile hydrogen filling station at its Europa Terminal.

In a statement, it said the tractor has a carrying capacity of up to 36 tonnes and will be deployed to move containers in the terminal.

The test, which will last two weeks, is part 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.

"At PSA Antwerp, we believe in the potential of hydrogen as a green energy carrier," the terminal said.

PSA Antwerp noted that its 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 long-term aim is to significantly decrease Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and Particle Matters (PM) at its terminals.

"The experience gained from this trial will also be put towards other pilots to achieve further terminal decarbonization. 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," it said. 

PSA said the European Horizon 2020 Green Deal Call awarded the Programme a grant in early May, as part of the PIONEERS consortium (PORTable Innovation Open Network For Efficiency and Emissions Reduction Solutions).

The terminal noted that this will allow PSA Antwerp to carry out two more demonstrator projects: exploring the injection of up to 90% of hydrogen into the straddle carrier’s combustion engine; testing the performance of a straddle carrier equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell.