Grimaldi and H2PORTS ready for the dockside hydrogen breakthrough

On 3 December, the Grimaldi Group took part in the final conference of the European project H2PORTS – Implementing Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Technologies in Ports, held at the auditorium of the Valencia Port Authority and subsequently at the Muelle de la Xità.

Coordinated by Fundación Valenciaport in close collaboration with the Valencia Port Authority, and funded by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership program, the project’s main objective was to test and validate hydrogen technologies applied to port handling operations, ensuring concrete and replicable solutions, zero local emissions and no negative impact on operational performance or safety.

During the event, which brought together around 30 speakers and more than 150 participants, the main results of this pioneering initiative were presented. A hydrogen fuel-cell-powered reach stacker, a hydrogen 4×4 terminal tractor and a mobile refuelling station were all successfully tested under real operating conditions.

The project involved a total investment of approximately €4 million. In addition to Fundación Valenciaport and the Valencia Port Authority, other partners were:
the National Hydrogen Centre (CNH2), the Grimaldi Group (through its subsidiaries Grimaldi Euromed and Valencia Terminal Europa), MSC Terminal Valencia, Hyster-Yale, ATENA – the High Technology Energy and Environment District, Ballard Power Systems Europe, Carburos Metálicos (Air Products Group) and Enagás.

The role of the Grimaldi Group in the H2PORTS project

Within the H2PORTS consortium, the Grimaldi Group played a central role in the development and testing of the world’s first hydrogen-fuelled terminal tractor, with conversion from a diesel vehicle into zero-emission power.

The prototype was developed by ATENA (the Campania High Technology Energy and Environment District), with the support of ENEA (the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development), the University of Naples Parthenope and Grimaldi Euromed. It was subsequently tested at Valencia Terminal Europa, a Grimaldi Group facility.

The vehicle is equipped with a hybrid propulsion system combining a 70 kW fuel cell (supplied by Ballard), a 25 kWh battery and four high-pressure hydrogen tanks, enabling operation for an entire work shift with zero emissions.

One of the project’s main challenges was the development of an intelligent energy management strategy capable of optimizing the combined use of the fuel cell and battery, while ensuring efficiency, service continuity and component durability.

Tests carried out at Valencia Terminal Europa demonstrated that hydrogen technology can be seamlessly integrated into even the most demanding port operations, replacing fossil fuels without compromising efficiency, safety or operator comfort.

Thanks to H2PORTS, the port of Valencia is now ready to permanently integrate hydrogen into its operations. At the same time, the Grimaldi Group has further strengthened its role as a maritime and port operator committed to decarbonization, field-testing innovative technologies for the energy transition of terminals and fleets.