Forklifts powered exclusively by green hydrogen are being deployed at Koelnmesse for the first time. Their fuel-cell drive systems produce no local emissions. Moreover, the hydrogen used is generated from water using renewable energy. This eliminates the need for fossil fuels, while ensuring that no CO₂ emissions are produced during fuel generation either. Fast refuelling and consistently high performance make this technology particularly well suited to trade fair operations.
“We are proud that, by deploying fuel-cell technology and green hydrogen, we are taking another important step towards sustainability and climate neutrality in trade fair operations,” says Gerald Böse, CEO of Koelnmesse. “Much of what secures the future of our industry happens behind the scenes – and that is precisely where we are advancing pioneering work and innovations that will enable us to make trade fairs climate-friendly and resource-efficient in the long term.”
The global transport and logistics company DSV operates the vehicles at Germany’s third-largest exhibition grounds. Together with Koelnmesse and JA-Gastechnology GmbH, a provider of hydrogen refuelling stations and infrastructure, a dedicated hydrogen refuelling station has been installed directly on site. The hydrogen, produced through electrolysis using renewable energy, is supplied by Tyczka.
By deploying hydrogen technology, DSV and Koelnmesse are reshaping on-site logistics. Hydrogen-powered vehicles enable locally emission-free operation: fuel cells produce neither CO₂, soot nor other pollutants during operation, but only water vapour. At the same time, these vehicles offer clear advantages over battery-electric forklifts: thanks to short refuelling times, high availability and consistently strong performance, they have proven their value.
The forklifts are refuelled with green hydrogen, which is not produced from natural gas but generated from water through electrolysis using renewable electricity. This also eliminates CO₂ emissions from producing the energy carrier, making the transition a direct contribution to the decarbonisation of logistics. Koelnmesse has set itself the target of saving 5,800 tonnes of CO₂ annually from 2028 onwards.
“As the official logistics service provider, we work closely with our customer to implement emission-reducing concepts in trade fair operations,” says Jörg Pries, Managing Director and Head of the DACH Cluster at DSV Fairs & Events. “With the commissioning of the first ten hydrogen-powered forklifts and a dedicated H₂ refuelling station, we are setting a milestone at the Cologne site: this is DSV’s first trade fair location in Germany to operate a hydrogen-based forklift fleet along with the corresponding refuelling infrastructure. For us, this is an important step and a strong example of how new technologies can be combined with day-to-day trade fair operations.”
Looking ahead, Koelnmesse also plans to integrate its own photovoltaic systems even more extensively. Surplus solar power could then be converted directly into hydrogen on site in its own electrolysis plant. The first infrastructure required for this has now been established with the new hydrogen refuelling station.
Find more information about the project here. You can also find more information about Koelnmesse’s sustainability strategy here.