Innovative Hydrogen-Powered Wheel Loader Trial at Austrian Quarry
Key Ideas
- STRABAG in Gratkorn is trialing a hydrogen-powered wheel loader by Liebherr for two years.
- A hydrogen filling station is being constructed at the quarry for refueling the wheel loader.
- Liebherr's hydrogen engines from Switzerland allow CO2-free operation of high-energy demand vehicles.
- Energie Steiermark will supply hydrogen for the filling station at Kanzelstein quarry.
In Gratkorn, Austria, construction company STRABAG has embarked on a two-year trial of Liebherr's hydrogen-powered wheel loader at the Kanzelstein quarry. To support this endeavor, a hydrogen filling station is being erected on-site, allowing direct refueling of the wheel loader. The hydrogen for this filling station will be provided by energy supplier Energie Steiermark. Manufactured by Liebherr's components division's engine plant in Bulle, Switzerland, the hydrogen engines used in the wheel loader offer a sustainable solution for large vehicles with high energy demands. Herbert Pfab, the Technical Director of Liebherr-Werk Bischofshofen, highlighted the environmental benefits of this technology by stating that it enables the operation of challenging-to-electrify vehicles without producing CO2 emissions. This innovative project represents a significant step towards sustainable and eco-friendly construction practices in the region.