The Port Authority of Valencia is committed to H₂ research through the signing of an agreement with CNH2 (C.N.E. H₂ and Fuel Cells) with the aim of promoting the technological development and implementation of this fuel in the Valencian docks.

At today’s meeting of the Board of Directors of the Port Authority of València (PAV) has given the go-ahead to the signing of this agreement whose purpose is to give continuity to the authorization for the occupation of an area of 446 m2 of port public domain in the north dock ‘Xità’ for the operation of a pilot station for mobile refueling of H₂.

Currently, the H₂ station is being used by two vehicles associated with the operators Mediterranean Shipping Company Terminal Valencia, S.A. (MSC) and Valencia Terminal Europa, S.A. (VTE): the ReachStacker developed by Hyster, the 4×4 H₂ tractor developed by Atena.

These vehicles can only be operated by specially trained and qualified port personnel, and a subgroup has been created to carry out this work. On the other hand, from the point of view of port operations, it is necessary for these vehicles to be ready and filled with H₂ fuel before the first shift in the morning. Hence, it is necessary to locate the H₂ facility within the port service area as it allows the refueling action to take place in the shortest possible time and avoids delays at the port access control points.

It is also important that H₂ is refueled as soon as possible, as it is a gas with special expansibility characteristics that require a certain amount of time to refill the tanks of port vehicles. The success of this type of technology lies not only in environmental efficiency and 0% emissions, but also in the correct adaptation to a world as competitive and strict in terms of operational efficiency as the port activity in port terminals where it is being tested.

The signing is part of the European H2PORTS project financed by the European Commission, specifically the Fuel Cells H₂ Joint Undertaking, the European organization in charge of financing and promoting H₂ research, technological development and deployment.