The potential of hydrogen powered forestry transports in Swedish counties. The project “The value chain of hydrogen driven forestry transports in Värmland” (V3 Skog) explores the potential for transitioning heavy forestry transports to fossil‑free hydrogen solutions in Värmland, Sweden. Forestry transport represents a significant share of regional freight flows, and the project aimed to provide knowledge and a foundation for future pilot initiatives. Insights relevant to other Swedish regions are also included. The work combined stakeholder collaboration across the entire value chain—from hydrogen production to haulers and industrial customers—with analytical modeling and desk studies. Key success factors identified include: • Strategically located hydrogen refueling stations, • Availability of heavy‑duty vehicles meeting forestry requirements, • Competitive hydrogen pricing driven by efficient production and distribution. While local hydrogen production is not essential, it can reduce costs due to high distribution expenses. T wo technologies—fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) and hydrogen internal combustion engines (H2 ICE)—offer long range and fast refueling but differ in efficiency and terrain performance. FCEV suits flat routes, whereas H2 ICE performs better in hilly landscapes. Overall, hydrogen‑powered forestry transports are technically feasible and practically viable, provided these listed critical factors are addressed. The project delivers a scalable framework for regional hydrogen deployment in heavy transport.
Green et al. (Thu,) studied this question.