(London / UK) – Hyster and Briggs Equipment UK have delivered a fuel cell-powered container stacker to London's main port, Tilbury – reportedly the first to be used in a UK port. The machine, dubbed the "ReachStacker" by Hyster, was optimized following a pilot project in Valencia last year and is powered by a 60-kilowatt motor from Nuvera Fuel Cells, part of Hyster-Yale Materials Handling Inc. The electricity generated is stored in a 130-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery.
The tank is sufficient for a 12-hour shift.
The 32-kilogram hydrogen tank, which can be filled in 30 minutes, enables long operating times and a full twelve-hour shift. For this pilot project, the forklift and lifting platform supplier Briggs Equipment is providing dealer support, including service and maintenance. Hyster is working closely with Briggs and the Port of Tilbury, providing on-site expertise for the system.
Geo Pura and Forth Ports plan to produce green hydrogen in the port of Tilbury. © Thames Freeport Ltd.
The green hydrogen will be produced using an electrolyzer from Geo Pura Ltd. The British company and Forth Ports Ltd. announced their commercial-scale collaboration for heavy industrial applications in April. Geo Pura designs and manufactures Hydrogen Power Units (HPUs) that provide emission-free electricity and replace diesel generators in sectors such as construction, infrastructure, and events. The one-megawatt, solar-powered production facility for Tlbury is being funded by Thames Freeport with two million pounds (2,3 million euros).
In June, Ballard Power Systems Inc. acquired Geo Pura, a company founded in 2019. The US electrolyzer manufacturer thus became an energy service provider. The company's focus now also includes the leasing and sale of HPUs and hydrogen.
Tilbury is part of the Scottish Forth Ports Group, which aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2042. The Thames Freeport special economic zone stretches for 38 kilometers along the River Thames in East London and South Essex, where Forth Ports operates several ports and terminals. Tilbury expects to save more than 107.000 kilograms of CO2 per year by combining hydrogen production with forklift operation.
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Hyster and Briggs Equipment UK have delivered a fuel cell-powered container stacker to the Port of Tilbury. © Forth Ports Limited
