ULEMCo announced a major step forward in the practical decarbonization of construction operations with the launch of HyTANKa – a mobile H₂ supply and refueling vehicle specifically engineered to address the operational challenges of energy delivery in off-road environments. Developed to replicate the role of the diesel bowser, HyTANKa provides a safe, flexible and self-contained solution for taking the fuel to the equipment rather than the equipment coming to the filling station. This is currently a key barrier to the deployment of H₂-powered equipment within the normal operational requirements of a busy site.

The construction industry is recognized as one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonize, due largely to the high energy demands of machinery, the requirement for rapid and continuous operation, and the frequent absence of fixed energy supply during the early phases of site infrastructure development. While H₂-powered equipment – dual-fuel, full combustion and fuel cell – is gaining interest as a practical ultra-low-emission alternative to diesel, the absence of suitable on-site refueling mechanisms is a significant technical challenge.

HyTANKa addresses this gap by enabling mobile, high-pressure H₂ delivery directly to construction machinery in the field. The vehicle is designed to operate autonomously and is equipped with a two-way booster system that allows for both the refueling of H₂ machines at pressures up to 350 bar, and the filling of its own tanks from lower pressure sources, such as manifolded cylinder pallets or higher volume on-site storage. The integration of these features allows HyTANKa to be independent of fixed power supplies or compression infrastructure, which is critical in the early phase of a site development or in remote construction environments.

Crucially, HyTANKa is road legal under ADR regulations, allowing it to travel directly to H₂ production facilities for filling and around the site, in the same way diesel bowsers are used today. This operational flexibility offers construction operators the ability to manage H₂ logistics in a dynamic, site-responsive manner. In keeping with its decarbonization purpose, the HyTANKa platform is itself powered by a H₂ dual-fuel engine, reducing the overall carbon footprint of fuel logistics and further aligning with the broader sustainability goals of modern construction projects.

The HyTANKa has already been successfully demonstrated in live construction environments as part of the Element 1 project, part-funded by DESNZ, where it was used for onsite refueling of 20-ton dual-fuel H₂ excavators. These real-world use tests confirmed the vehicle’s ability to deliver fuel loads within minutes, enabling uninterrupted machine operation, and validated the platform’s suitability for routine use in demanding off-road conditions. With the capacity to refuel multiple machines per day, and to operate across dispersed or inaccessible locations, HyTANKa has proved it could match the service model of conventional diesel bowsers.

“HyTANKa provides the missing link between H₂ production and point-of-use on active construction sites,” said Amanda Lyne, Managing Director of ULEMCo. “It is potentially a game-changer by enabling the same kind of operational flexibility and autonomy with H₂ fuel that diesel has traditionally offered, but with a dramatic reduction in carbon emissions. It has been designed to accelerate the transition to cleaner energy in one of the most difficult sectors to decarbonize. We believe that HyTANKa represents a key step forward for H₂ deployment in construction and other off-grid industrial sectors.”