The Port of Valencia (Spain) hosted the final conference of the H2PORTS project on December 3rd, 2025, presenting the principal findings of this European initiative that has tested hydrogen-powered port machinery in full operational conditions. The event brought together some thirty speakers and more than 150 participants and combined formal presentations at the Port Authority of Valencia auditorium with an on-site inspection of the pilot prototypes at the Xità quay.
The H2PORTS initiative enabled the Port of Valencia to become the first port in the world to conduct regular operations with a hydrogen fuel-cell ReachStacker and a hydrogen-powered 4×4 terminal tractor, supported by a mobile hydrogen refuelling station designed for real-world use. During the visit to the pilot projects, attendees examined the ReachStacker developed by Hyster-Yale, which has been tested at MSC Terminal Valencia and delivers lifting capacity and operating speeds comparable to its diesel counterparts, while operating emission-free with four high-pressure hydrogen tanks capable of sustaining one or two full shifts on a single refill.
The conference agenda also included detailed briefings on the world’s first hydrogen-powered port tractor unit, a prototype converted from a diesel model by ATENA with technical support from ENEA, the Parthenope University of Naples and Grimaldi Euromed and trialled at the Grimaldi Group’s Valencia Terminal Europa. This converted tractor incorporates a fuel-cell system coupled with a battery to permit full-shift operation without local emissions.
Alongside the machinery demonstrations, the assembled delegates observed the operation of the mobile hydrogen refuelling station, developed by the National Hydrogen Centre (CNH2) and operated by Carburos Metálicos of the Air Products group. The system, comprising fixed and mobile components, is capable of delivering hydrogen at pressures up to 450 bar and refuelling the pilot vehicles in a single day, illustrating how flexible supply infrastructure can support hydrogen usage in a busy port environment.
Representatives from the Clean Hydrogen Partnership — the European funding entity for H2PORTS — and officials from the Port Authority of Valencia and Fundación Valenciaport outlined how the project has advanced operational readiness for hydrogen technologies in large-scale port contexts, contributing to decarbonisation strategies and demonstrating practical applications of clean fuel systems.
The concluding session of the conference also featured presentations from other European ports on their hydrogen deployment strategies, reinforcing the role of collaboration and innovation in the shift toward zero-emission port operations.