Daimler Truck, MB Energy and Kawasaki Heavy Industries have signed a joint development agreement (JDA) to establish a liquefied hydrogen supply chain to Europe via the Port of Hamburg.

Under this agreement, the three companies will use their respective expertise to proceed with specific studies to establish the supply chain.

The objective is to achieve a commercial operation date for the supply of liquefied hydrogen and hydrogen by the early 2030s.

“Hydrogen can become a key enabler for Europe’s energy transition, and Hamburg is ideally positioned to become Germany’s main gateway,” says MB Energy new energy, storage and infrastructure senior VP Volker Ebeling.

“We are combining MB Energy’s infrastructure, our service station network and our trading expertise with Daimler Truck’s next generation hydrogen truck developments and Kawasaki’s pioneering hydrogen storage and shipping technologies.

“Jointly we are working to build a scalable, international hydrogen import corridor for Europe.

“Establishing a reliable liquefied hydrogen supply chain contributes to energy security, as well as increased sustainability,” added Ebeling.

“Together with our partners, we aim to deliver this as an integrated end-to-end solution.”

Scaling hydrogen-powered trucks across Europe in the next decade will only be possible if a reliable and competitive supply of liquid hydrogen is in place, notes Daimler Truck regulatory strategy head Manfred Schuckert.

“This agreement is essential because it brings key partners together to jointly study and shape a liquefied hydrogen supply chain to Europe, with a clear focus on feasibility, scalability and long-term impact,” he says.

“For heavy-duty transport, liquid hydrogen offers the energy density and operational flexibility needed for long-haul applications, but its potential can only be unlocked through coordinated action along the entire value chain.”

Daimler Truck aims to bring 100 liquid hydrogen powered fuel-cell trucks into customer operations from the end of this year onwards.

Series production for hydrogen powered fuel-cell trucks is targeted for the early 2030s. This is the point at which the truck maker expects to see the availability of the necessary infrastructure and, through agreements like this, also the availability of liquid hydrogen at competitive market prices.

Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) hydrogen strategy division GM and executive officer Kei Nomura says his company welcomes the Hamburg-centred initiative as a key step in building a hydrogen supply chain between Japan and Germany.

Kawasaki Heavy Industries will provide its expertise in the design and manufacture of essential infrastructure, including hydrogen liquefiers, liquid hydrogen (LH2) storage tanks, and LH2 carrier ships, which are critical to the establishment of international liquefied hydrogen supply chains.