INEOS Inovyn claims it will become the first company in Europe to use a hydrogen truck for PVC transportation. Partnered with Benvic and GCA Trans Service to produce the truck, deliveries are expected to begin at the end of 1Q2023, from INEOS Inovyn’s PVC production plant in Tavaux to Benvic’s plant in Dijon, France.
 

The truck will be built based on a DAF chassis in which the diesel motor will be replaced by hydrogen fuel cells. It will be refuelled at a local station in Dijon providing 100% green hydrogen (produced using renewable energy) and has a range of 500 km between two refills. INEOS Inovyn expects that 60 t/y of CO₂ emissions will be saved.
 

Commenting on the news, Geir Tuft, Chief Executive, INEOS Inovyn, said: ‘The use of hydrogen trucks for product deliveries is a key part of our sustainability roadmap which aims to drastically reduce our CO₂ footprint over the next few years.’
 

He added: ‘Supplying hydrogen to the transport market is a key step in our new INEOS Hydrogen business strategy which also includes new hydrogen production from water electrolysis, as well as hydrogen storage and development of downstream supply into chemicals.’
 

Similar projects are expected to follow in the Netherlands and Belgium.
 

Mega-scale hydrogen plant plans
In other hydrogen news, plans have been unveiled for what is claimed will be the largest green hydrogen facility in the US.

The ‘mega-scale’ renewable power-to-hydrogen project to be built by Air Products and AES Corporation in Wilbarger County, Texas, will produce 200 t/d of green hydrogen, with 1.4 GW of wind and solar power generation and an electrolyser.
 

The plant is due to be operational in 2027.