H2NPorts

Motivation

In addition to seaward accessibility, ports are often also responsible for rail connections to the hinterland. For example, NPorts operates the public rail facilities as port railroads at the Brake, Cuxhaven and Emden sites. The facilities are the final link between the mostly electrified Deutsche Bahn line and the port handling facilities. At present, the locomotives are operated with a conservative diesel drive in shunting operations, as electrification is not possible due to the vertical unloading facilities. In order to make a contribution towards climate neutrality at NPorts, alternative fuels such as hydrogen are to be examined more closely.

Project Objective

The non-electrifiable port railway facilities of NPorts at the Brake, Cuxhaven and Emden sites offer ideal conditions for climate-friendly fuel cell propulsion with hydrogen. As part of H2NPorts, a feasibility study is to be carried out for the construction of a hydrogen filling station and to determine the most suitable location in each case. The increased use of alternative fuels is an important building block on the road to climate-neutral action. The feasibility study is intended to further establish CO2-free hydrogen as an alternative energy source and fuel in transport and contribute to modern and sustainable rail transport.