(Abu Dhabi, UAE / Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany) – Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC (Masdar) and Daimler Truck Holding AG will jointly explore the possibilities of supplying green liquid hydrogen from Abu Dhabi to Europe. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was recently signed by Fawaz Al Muharrami, Executive Director of Clean Energy and Deputy Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Masdar, and Martin Daum, Chairman of the Board of Management and CEO of Daimler Truck.
Masdar's goal: Leading in green hydrogen
The collaboration between the two companies is a significant step in ongoing efforts to reduce CO2 emissions in road freight transport, a joint statement said. “Masdar is committed to being one of the leading players in the development of green hydrogen worldwide,” said Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi. “We believe that the transport sector is one of the most strategic markets for green hydrogen.” The agreement follows the “smart early mover approach, aimed at implementing projects with strategic partners around the world.”
Martin Daum, CEO of Daimler Truck Holding AG, said the initiative with Masdar was “a first step towards enabling the supply of green liquid hydrogen in Europe”. They want to “take a pioneering role in sustainable transport”. In order to decarbonize commercial vehicles, it is “absolutely crucial to make green energy available globally.”
Martin Daum, CEO of Daimler Truck, and Fawaz Al Muharrami, Deputy Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Masdar at the signing of the MoU in Abu Dhabi. © Daimler Truck Holding AG
The United Arab Emirates aims to establish itself as a leading producer and supplier of low-carbon hydrogen by 2031. Founded in 2006, Masdar has developed projects in more than 40 countries and with a total power generation capacity of more than 20 GW (gigawatts). The company says it has invested or committed to investing in projects worldwide with a total value of over $30 billion. The aim is to achieve an installed capacity of 2030 GW by 100.
Daimler Truck plans to convert its entire range of trucks and buses in its global core markets (Europe, USA, Japan) to CO2039-neutral driving by 2. In order to decarbonize the transport of the future, Daimler Truck is pursuing a dual strategy with both hydrogen and battery-powered vehicles.
Andreas Gorbach, member of the board of Daimler Truck Holding AG: “Fuel cell trucks are ideal for long-distance transport.” © Daimler Truck AG
Daimler recently tested the practicality of liquid hydrogen with the prototype of the Mercedes-Benz "GenH2" truck. A truck approved for public road use covered 1.047 kilometers between Wörth am Rhein and Berlin on a single tank of liquid hydrogen. The vehicle completed the route fully loaded and with a permissible gross weight of 40 tons under real-world conditions. The journey, with sealed tanks and monitored mileage, was certified by TÜV Rheinland. Daimler Truck is currently building a test fleet of GenH2 trucks, which, according to the company, are expected to be deployed by customers by mid-2024.
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Daimler Truck and Masdar are exploring the possibility of supplying green liquid hydrogen to decarbonize road freight transport in Europe. © Daimler Truck Holding AG
