PORT OF LA, U.S.A. aiming for the transition to Fuel Cell of port cargo handling machinery and drayage trucks.Mitsui E&S Machinery Co., Ltd. (MES-M) and its US subsidiary, PACECO® Corp. (PACECO), were awarded a grant by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) entitled “Demonstration project for the commercialization of the port hydrogen model at the Port of Los Angeles in North America.” This grant, awarded in December 2021, is part of an overall project encompassing a demonstration of the hydrogen supply chain, from local production of clean hydrogen to the consumption point of port container handling equipment and drayage trucks powered by hydrogen fuel cell technology. This project will be executed in collaboration with Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Toyota Tsusho America, Inc., Hino Motors, Ltd., and Hino Motor Manufacturing U.S.A., Inc.. The anticipated project term is from February 2022 to March 2026.
The LA Port Authority and the Long Beach Port Authority have established a Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP) to achieve zero gas emissions from port equipment by 2030. Among the container handling equipment, a rubber-tired-gantry (RTG) crane is powered by a large diesel engine genset, a significant contributor to gas emissions. Switching to a zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell power source will significantly contribute to reduced emissions in the port.
In September 2021 MES-M initiated a hydrogen fuel cell powered zero emission (ZE) Transtainer RTG development project funded by a grant from NEDO titled “Collaborative Industry-Academia-Government R&D Project for Solving Common Challenges Toward Dramatically Expanded Use of Fuel Cells and Related Equipment, theme Ⅲ, Technology Development for Diversifying Fuel Cell Use.” As part of the overall project, the ZE Transtainer RTG will be delivered to a terminal in the Port of Los Angeles for feasibility testing in actual operation from 2Q 2024. This will be the world’s first demonstration to operate hydrogen fuel cell powered cargo handling equipment including the ZE Transtainer crane, and drayage trucks, fueled by local clean hydrogen production and supply facilities. The demonstration will span three years.
As a pioneer of zero emission Transtainer RTGs, proven through this demonstration project, we will work with ports and terminal operators to decarbonize their yard cranes. PACECO-Mitsui NZE (near-zero-emission) Transtainer RTGs are commercially available today and designed with a small diesel engine genset that can be easily converted to hydrogen power as hydrogen infrastructure expands to ports.
