Daimler Truck AG (Daimler Truck), Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) and Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. have signed a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The aim of the partnership is to establish a reliable and economical supply chain for green liquid hydrogen via the Port of Hamburg to the European hinterland, it says.
The collaboration aims to enable the import of liquid hydrogen from hydrogen-producing countries into Germany, and in particular to strengthen the Hamburg site as a central hub. In the coming months, the partners plan to examine the logistical requirements for handling and onward transport by road and rail.
Further transport with Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck
In addition, they aim to recruit further companies and institutions to build a consortium along the entire hydrogen value chain. Dr. Andreas Gorbach, Member of the
Board, Daimler Truck, responsible for Truck Technology:
“Europe will, in the future as well, rely on imports for green energy – hydrogen will play a key role here. This partnership is an important step in that direction, and we will need more initiatives of this kind to strengthen Europe’s leadership in the field of liquid hydrogen. The special thing: Our Mercedes-Benz GenH2 Truck can not only become a customer for green liquid hydrogen, but also enable onward transport on the road. And the best part: With hydrogen we accelerate the pace of decarbonisation—and reduce the scope and cost of the already sluggish power grid expansion.”
Strong Signal for the Energy TransitionThe signing of the Memorandum of Understanding is intended to underline the strategic importance of liquid hydrogen for the energy transition and the
transformation of European industry. In this regard, the partners contribute their respective expertise. HHLA acts as a European network logistics provider, Daimler Truck as a global commercial vehicle manufacturer with a focus on CO₂-neutral drivetrains such as battery-electric and hydrogen-based, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries as an experienced technology provider in the field of hydrogen infrastructure. Annette Walter, Chief Financial Officer, HHLA:
„Hydrogen is a key to a climate-neutral future – and at HHLA we want to actively shape this development. Liquid hydrogen plays a central role because it can be transported independently of pipelines – a major advantage for mobility, logistics, aviation and especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. Our goal is to reliably supply industry with hydrogen through our European logistics network. The partnership with Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Daimler Truck is
an important step to make liquid hydrogen more broadly available and to push decarbonisation forward together.”
And Kei Nomura, Executive Central Manager, Hydrogen Strategy Division, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., adds:
„Liquid hydrogen is a key enabler for a sustainable energy society. We have long been working to establish the technological foundation for it. We are very pleased with the collaboration with HHLA and Daimler Truck to examine an international supply chain for liquid hydrogen in Europe – starting in Hamburg. Kawasaki Heavy Industries possesses proven technologies and extensive experience in the production, storage, transport and receipt of liquid hydrogen. We will use this know-how to support the development of a hydrogen supply network in Europe. Going forward, we will continue to rely on global partnerships to expand the use of liquid hydrogen and
