4 June 2021

CMB.TECH opens world's first multimodal hydrogen refuelling station and presents hydrogen truck

Yesterday CMB.TECH opened the first multimodal hydrogen refuelling station at the Port House in Antwerp. The refuelling station produces green hydrogen, which will be used to power zero-emission ships, tube trailers, cars, trucks and buses. In addition to the hydrogen filling station, CMB.TECH launched the Lenoir hydrogen truck.

With the realization of the hydrogen filling station, CMB.TECH proves that it controls the entire chain from the production of green hydrogen to its use in various applications. The concept will be further refined in the coming months and is ready to be scaled up.

"In the future ports will become hydrogen hotspots because you have a large concentration of applications that are difficult to electrify. In addition, many ports will have access to hydrogen either through large electrolyser plants or through imports. We are therefore very pleased to be able to put the station into operation after two and a half years of development,'' stated Roy Campe, CTO CMB.TECH.

In addition to the refuelling station, the site also includes two trailer docks that can be used to pump the green produced hydrogen to trailers, which can supply hydrogen to the port applications developed by CMB.TECH. For the hydrogen refuelling station, CMB.TECH worked together with specialized partners such as Ekinetix, Ballast Nedam Industriebouw, Alpha Engineering, Maximator and Cummins.

Lenoir truck
In addition to the hydrogen filling station, CMB.TECH launched the first 'dual fuel' truck, which runs on hydrogen in addition to diesel. The technology is feasible, affordable and green, and allows for the conversion of various applications in the short term. The Lenoir truck will help reduce emissions in the logistics sector. This hydrogen truck has the symbolic name 'Lenoir', referring to Étienne Lenoir, a Belgian who built the first hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine in 1860.

The opening was attended by Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, Flemish Minister-President Jan Jambon and Frans Timmermans, Vice-President of the European Commission and Executive Vice-President of the European Green Deal. WaterstofNet was also present.