The Port of Gothenburg and clean energy producers Statkraft have outlined plans to construct a hydrogen production facility at the port which will be used to power different types of freight-handling equipment.
Both parties have entered into an agreement to conduct a more in-depth investigation for an interim storage facility and filling station at the port. A preliminary investigation is already underway and is scheduled to be completed by the beginning of 2022.
The planned facility is said to have an initial capacity of 4 MW, producing up to two tonnes of hydrogen per day. Capacity is also able to be expanded in the future if demand increases and new areas of use emerge.
“The Port of Gothenburg is Scandinavia’s largest port and as a hub for transport by sea, rail and road, it operates a wide range of heavy freight-handling equipment. Hydrogen has the potential to replace fossil-based diesel for all these items of equipment,” said Arvid Guthed, Vice President of Port Development at the Gothenburg Port Authority.
“We know there is already significant demand in and around the port for using equipment powered by hydrogen. A number of companies and organisations are ready and waiting and we are convinced that local production of hydrogen would represent a breakthrough.”
Per Rosenqvist, CEO of Statkraft Hydrogen Sweden AB, added “Statkraft is the largest supplier of renewable energy in Europe, and we maintain that renewable hydrogen will be critical if we are to achieve carbon-free transport within the near future. This project will increase the potential for this development by contributing to the transition to a fossil-free transport sector on land and at sea.
“We need to ensure that a mix of fossil-free fuels is available at the Port of Gothenburg if we are to achieve our climate goals and ultimately become fossil-free. We are working actively on several fronts, including the Tranzero initiative, where land transport is particularly in focus and hydrogen is a key component.”
Construction of the facility is estimated to begin in the middle of 2023 after an investment of SEK 60 million ($7 million).
The Port of Gothenburg also recently went live with the new Port Optimizer Track & Trace app, making it easier for freight owners, rail, and terminal operators to track their freight in real-time. Announced in October 2021, the new app was developed by Wabtec and allows users to follow their freight and see which vessel carried the cargo, when it was loaded and when it left the terminal for the onward journey by rail.
