As Europe's third-largest port, Hamburg faces a particular challenge in its transformation to climate-neutral transportation: the extensive logistics for transporting goods to, in and from the port must be converted to new drive systems.
Auf einen Blick
- HHLA, the largest terminal operator, aims to be climate-neutral by 2040.
- The 24-hour operation of terminal vehicles leaves little opportunity for charging or refueling.
- New powertrains require new energy infrastructure: power lines and fueling stations must be built.
The transition of trucks in the Port of Hamburg to climate-friendly powertrains is underway. In addition, a large portion of the goods is transported by freight trains, which already run on electric power on regional and long-distance routes. The situation is somewhat different at the terminals within the port itself: Due to numerous overhead lines and intersecting routes of different vehicle types, installing overhead lines here is difficult, so shunting locomotives currently run on diesel. In the future, battery-powered and, in particular, hydrogen-powered locomotives will be suitable for this purpose, and Hamburg provides the ideal testing environment for them.
Special-purpose vehicles at terminals
Cargo handling at the terminals themselves requires a range of vehicle types not found anywhere else. In addition to cable-powered electric container gantry cranes and portal cranes, these primarily include diesel-powered empty container handlers, forklifts, van carriers, and terminal tractors. These operate under very demanding conditions: heavy loads and multi-shift operations require large amounts of energy that must be available within seconds. With innovative terminals and test sites, Hamburg demonstrates how the transformation can succeed: The Container Terminal Altenwerder (CTA) is highly automated and certified as climate-neutral. There, so-called Automated Guided Vehicles transport containers to their destination. A test site for hydrogen-powered specialty vehicles has been established at the Tollerort Container Terminal. At a specially built hydrogen refueling station, prototypes of new vehicles can be tested under real-world operating conditions.
Activities of hysolutions
To support the transition of port transport to climate-neutral propulsion systems, hysolutions initiates suitable projects, brings together partners from the fields of vehicles, infrastructure, and technology suppliers, and acts as an interface with port operators and port authorities. For example, as part of the Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI), hysolutions coordinated the application phase for several projects in the Port of Hamburg.
Förderung
If a significant portion of the project consists of R&D, “Horizon Europe” is a suitable funding program.
At the national level, the NOW Funding Finder is a reliable source of funding opportunities. If local or regional funding opportunities are available, they will be listed here.
