Arnhem, 9 September 2022
PreZero starts collecting waste with hydrogen truck in Arnhem
PreZero and municipality of Arnhem participate in European HECTOR project
PreZero Nederland - specialist in waste and raw materials management - have launched their hydrogen truck for the collection of waste in Arnhem. Together with the municipality of Arnhem, PreZero is participating in a European project in which municipalities, waste collectors and suppliers in different countries work together to gain experience with driving on hydrogen. Within this project, PreZero is deploying an electric vehicle in the municipality of Arnhem that runs fully on hydrogen and no harmful emissions. The collection truck will hit the road in mid-September. A milestone on the road to CO 2-free waste collection.
For the collection of household waste, European environmental requirements require that CO2 and particulate matter emissions must be reduced as much as possible. In order to comply with this EU directive, Arnhem and PreZero have committed themselves to the HECTOR project, which stands for Hydrogen Waste Collection Vehicles in North West Europe[1]. This European project aims to reduce CO2 emissions by using collection vehicles that run on hydrogen. The experience gained in this respect should answer the question of how to significantly reduce emissions of harmful substances in road transport. Manufacturer E-Trucks Europe has developed the innovative hydrogen car that isused for this purpose.
"This European project aims to show the possibilities of driving on hydrogen. A car that runs on hydrogen has the same possibilities and range as a diesel vehicle. The big advantage is that the cars are clean, do not cause noise pollution and are very suitable for use in urban areas," says Iwante Winkel, Director of Collection & Operations at PreZero Netherlands. Participation in the HECTOR project is a logical step for PreZero as part of its sustainable strategy, he emphasizes. "Collecting without CO2 emissions is an important pillar of our sustainable ambitions. By joining forces with partners in the Netherlands and Europe, we are working together on a sustainable future."
The hydrogen truck in Arnhem is completely new and will be used for the collection of underground containers. Refuelling takes place at the hydrogen filling station on the Westervoortsedijk in Arnhem. The vehicle can refuel up to fifteen kilos of hydrogen and collect waste for two days. The use of the collection truck will provide a wealth of information that will play a role in decision-making about how waste can be collected CO 2-free in the Netherlands. HAN Automotive Research from Arnhem is responsible for data analysis and the processing of all this data in the HECTOR project.
Hydrogen-powered collection vehicles: how does it work?
On top of the hydrogen vehicle used by PreZero in Arnhem, there are two tanks, each with a capacity of 7.5 kilos. The collection vehicles transport hydrogen in gaseous form in pressure tanks of 350 bar. A fuel cell in these vehicles converts the gas into electricity and water. The vehicle is powered by the electricity. The advantage over electric vehicles is that hydrogen - just like petrol or diesel - can be refuelled in a short time, without the need to carry large and heavy batteries. Also, no engine noise is produced, which reduces noise pollution in residential areas to a minimum.
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About PreZero
PreZero is an international waste and recycling management company. It employs more than 30,000 people at 430 locations in Europe and North America. We see ourselves as a driver of innovation in the sector and strive for a world in which raw materials are no longer wasted. We achieve this by closing cycles. PreZero is part of the Schwarz Group, one of the leading food retail companies in Europe. The Schwarz Group has all stages of the cycle in its own hands: from production and retail to waste and recycling management.
About the HECTOR project
The HECTOR project – coordinated by Aberdeen City Council and supported by a grant of €5.5 million – was approved in January 2019 and has a duration of four years. HECTOR stands for 'Hydrogen Waste Collection Vehicles in North West Europe'; the use of 'Hydrogen waste collection vehicles' in North-West Europe. The project will deploy seven hydrogen-powered waste collection vehicles to demonstrate that hydrogen vehicles can be an effective solution to reduce emissions from road transport. The vehicles are tested under normal operating conditions to gain operational experience with various applications. For example, some vehicles are used in inner cities and others are tested in rural areas. Some garbage trucks collect municipal waste according to a fixed schedule, other vehicles collect industrial waste according to a flexible schedule. Participating partners are Aberdeen (Scotland), Groningen (The Netherlands), Arnhem (The Netherlands), Duisburg (Germany), Herten (Germany), Touraine Vallee de l'Indre (France) and Brussels (Belgium).
Contact:
PreZero Netherlands, Communication Department
Cindy van der Veen, 06 23 38 21 09
Lotje de Laat, 06 15 40 76 91
communicatie.nl@prezero.com | www.prezero.nl
[1] The HECTOR project is partly funded by Interreg North-West Europe.
