A consortium of five organisations is launching a project to produce and use green hydrogen at the Port of Savona. The initiative will include the deployment of hydrogen as an alternative power source for rail freight operations, including last-mile movements within the port.
The project was launched by the Ports of Genoa (which also oversees Savona), FS Logistix, Edison, Assocostieri and the Logistics Association of Sustainable Intermodal (ALIS). Italy’s Deputy Minister of Transport, Edoardo Rixi, attended the signing ceremony. “Savona could become a concrete laboratory for the energy transition of Italian ports,” he said.
The project will focus on developing an integrated hydrogen supply chain. This will include identifying potential users across landside logistics activities, including cargo handling, and maritime operations. The partners will also assess the optimal technical and economic configuration for hydrogen production and distribution facilities, in compliance with applicable authorisations and regulatory requirements. The potential use of hydrogen to power rail freight transport, including last-mile operations, will also be assessed.
The agreement will remain in force until 31 December 2027. Based on the results of the development and testing activities, as well as technical, financial and regulatory assessments, the partners will evaluate the next implementation phases in line with the solutions identified.
The aim is to develop a model that meets the needs of the Port of Savona but can also be replicated at other Italian ports, according to Fabrizio Mattana, Executive Vice President of Gas Assets at Edison.
Hydrogen in rail freight
The use of hydrogen in rail freight is another attempt to reduce diesel consumption and decarbonise the sector. A recent initiative in the UK saw GB Railfreight partner with US-based HyOrc to convert conventional engines to hydrogen power. China is also exploring hydrogen-powered freight locomotives. Last summer, for example, CRRC unveiled VELFORCE, a new brand covering modular freight power units based on battery, hydrogen fuel cell and diesel-battery hybrid technologies.
However, large-scale adoption of hydrogen in rail freight still appears some way off, with battery-electric hybrids remaining a more immediate option.