The Port of Valencia became the first in the world to use a 4×4 tractor truck powered by green hydrogen to move containers within its terminals. This is one more milestone in the roadmap with which the Port Authority of Valencia (APV) is working to achieve zero emissions targets for 2030 and a historic event for the entire port community of Valencia and the world port system. The vehicle is part of the European project H2PORTS.
The 4×4 terminal tractor has already carried out the first operational test at the Valencia Terminal Europa (VALTE) of the Grimaldi Group, under the supervision of the team of inspectors of H2PORTS, where it demonstrated its autonomy, reliability and power. First, it did a no-load test, with only the tractor unit, and then hitched up a truck trailer and took a tour of the terminal. The test was observed by more than 40 technicians, supervisors and representatives of the companies participating in the project.
“To achieve the total decarbonization of Valenciaport by 2030, it is very important to verify that the port is at the forefront in Europe and spearheading the world when it comes to introducing the first 4×4 truck with green hydrogen that is already operating for the first time in Valencia. It is an exceptional fact that fills us with pride and that shows this technology that completely eliminates pollution,” said the President of the APV, Joan Calabuig.
Along these lines, he added: “We are only at the beginning of our commitment to introduce hydrogen as a central element of mobility. It is the beginning of a path that will mean an extraordinary transformation in the field of mobility.”
For his part, Domenico Ferraiuolo, CEO of Valencia Terminal Europa (VALTE) and Grimaldi Ports, commented: “Advancing in the decarbonization of ships and land terminal machinery with zero emissions is a very important objective for Valencia and for the Grimaldi Group. Both institutions are very committed to decarbonizing maritime transport.”
This first operation was supervised by the technical team of ATENA, VALTE, the Grimaldi Group, the National Hydrogen Center, Carburos Metálicos and the Valenciaport Foundation as coordinator of this initiative. The RORO 4×4 tractor was developed by ATENA, a research and technology center made up of universities, research institutes and private companies based in the Italian region of Campania, and has the support of ENEA (European Environment Agency) and the Parthenope University of Naples.
Source: Port of Valencia
