Gothenburg boards the hydrogen train

Initially the facility, due to commence operation in 2023, will have a capacity of four MW, producing up to two tonnes of hydrogen per day.

The Gothenburg Port Authority and Statkraft have entered into an agreement to conduct a more in-depth investigation of the potential for an interim storage facility and filling station at the Port of Gothenburg. A preliminary study is currently being conducted with the focus primarily on safety aspects. It is expected to be completed at the beginning of 2022.

“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, 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,” said Arvid Guthed.

When hydrogen is produced using fossil-free power sources, such as hydropower or wind power, the hydrogen would also be fossil free. Hydrogen can be stored and used for different types of freight-handling equipment, primarily heavy transport equipment that can be switched to fuel cell operation. The use of hydrogen in effect produces no emissions other than steam.

Sweden’s goal is to reduce emissions from domestic transport by 70 per cent by 2030.