Lidl marks a new stage in its approach to sustainable development
For more than 10 years, Lidl has been investing to modernize its infrastructures and increase their environmental performance. In 2021, the brand is choosing green hydrogen to ensure the supply of its handling and lifting equipment on the Carquefou platform.
Located north of Nantes, Carquefou becomes the first logistics platform in Europe to opt for green hydrogen to operate its handling equipment. Since January 2022, 98 handling machines (80% of the logistics fleet) have been powered by green hydrogen.
Lidl sources its green hydrogen from Lhyfe, a pioneer in the production of hydrogen from renewable and local energy sources, since the Lhyfe plant is located a few dozen kilometers from Carquefou. Produced from sea water and renewable electricity, the availability of this green hydrogen was the condition for carrying out this project, thus avoiding the use of fossil or electric energy to power the trucks. Lidl thus has a local energy solution that combines ecological advantages and logistical performance.
Hydrogen to optimize logistics
- Refueling a hydrogen vehicle only lasts 2 to 3 minutes compared to several hours for recharging a lead-acid battery. High availability of hydrogen vehicles (97% of the time compared to approximately 50% with lead-acid technology) which offers the platform the possibility of optimizing the parking of vehicles in the charging area.
- 3 hydrogen charging stations are sufficient to supply all the site's handling equipment. There is therefore no longer any need for a dedicated space for recharging.
- The performance and autonomy of handling equipment is constant throughout the life of the hydrogen fuel cell. The productivity of logistics operations is not correlated to the aging of the battery as it could be the case with a lead-acid battery.
Green hydrogen for the environment
- Green hydrogen makes it possible to significantly decarbonize the activity: it is produced from renewable energies and does not emit CO2 or particles, either during its manufacture or its use.
- The service life of fuel cells (10 years) is greater than that of lead-acid battery vehicles (3 to 5 years), which induces a reduction in the frequency of battery renewal compared to battery use.
An ambitious project carried out thanks to the support of expert partners
To support Lidl in carrying out this project, the companies Lhyfe, Plug Power, HRS and Jungheinrich worked closely together to adapt a tailor-made solution to the needs of the Carquefou platform (assembly of the ICPE file, design and installation of interior equipment and exteriors, adaptation of vehicles to hydrogen fuel cells, hydrogen consumption forecasts).
- Plug Power is a pioneer of hydrogen fuel cells for the operation of handling machinery. Concretely, Plug Power provides, in collaboration with HRS and Jungheinrich, the equipment necessary for the implementation of the hydrogen solution. Plug Power will also carry out the maintenance of all equipment on site.
- Lhyfe is a global pioneer and pure player in green hydrogen. As a producer of green hydrogen, Lhyfe delivers renewable and local hydrogen produced 75 km from the Lidl platform. For this, Lhyfe uses wind and water: a nearby wind farm provides electricity, while seawater is pumped in very small quantities, then desalinated and purified. The electrolyser then separates the elements that make up water (hydrogen and oxygen) to produce green hydrogen.
Lhyfe will guarantee the supply necessary for the operation of the handling equipment, which represents 75 kg/day of green hydrogen at the height of the platform's activity. This large purchase volume - 300 kg/day at the end of 2021 to 1 ton/day by 2023 are produced in the plant - allows Lidl to contribute to the development of the first French company producing green hydrogen.
2022 is just the starting point for green hydrogen at Lidl
In parallel, Lidl is already studying the possibility of developing green hydrogen as a solution to optimize its logistics and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. In the medium term, Lidl plans to deploy green hydrogen vehicles on other logistics platforms or to use it to supply part of its fleet of delivery trucks.
For Gregory Podda, Logistics Manager, Lidl France: "Lidl is proud to open in Carquefou the first logistics platform in Europe running on green hydrogen thanks to its partners Plug Power, which has adapted the handling equipment, and Lhyfe, whose green hydrogen production plant is located 75km from our site. With 98 operational handling machines and a delivery truck to come in 2022, Lidl believes in the future of green hydrogen to optimize its logistics and lower its CO2 emissions in accordance with its commitments. »
For Julien Saleix, Regional Sales Manager, Plug Power: “Hydrogen technology for industrial trucks is mature, deployed at 165 sites and 50 machines around the world, chosen for the productivity gains it provides. For the first time in Europe, the hydrogen used here is green, renewable hydrogen: Lidl is bringing out a more sustainable energy model. This Carquefou site combines economic challenges and ambitious environmental objectives. »
For Matthieu Guesné, Founding President, Lhyfe: “We are delighted with this partnership, which perfectly illustrates the multiple interests – both committed and pragmatic – of companies in switching to renewable hydrogen. After the mobility sector, public players, Lidl is paving the way for renewable hydrogen to the world of logistics, transport and private players. This is a very promising turning point for the energy transition. »