Hydri opens second Swedish hydrogen refuelling station

Earlier this fall, Hydri inaugurated a station in the Port of Gothenburg, making the Rasta Håby station in Munkedal the second station to open in Western Sweden.

With its strategic location along the E6 motorway, Rasta Håby serves as a key hub for national and international traffic, and its inauguration marks an important milestone in the transition of the transportation sector.

We are striving to enable the transition to fossil-free across the value chain – and hydrogen plays an important role, especially in heavy transport. However, hydrogen trucks will not be able to roll on the roads without hydrogen refueling. The opening of the filling station in Håby, which will be our second in the Bohus region after the filling station in the Port of Gothenburg, marks a clear step towards enabling the transition of heavy traffic, not least in the Gothenburg region and soon also nationally, said Michel Thomas, CEO of Qarlbo Energy and Chairman of the Board of Hydri.

Hydrogen part of the powertrain portfolio

Hydrogen-powered trucks can travel up to 1,000 kilometers on a single tank. This enables hauliers to cover longer distances with less time spent on refueling compared to battery-electric trucks.

Haulage companies and transport buyers in Bohuslän and the surrounding areas with a regional focus can now begin transitioning their fleets.

In the long term, Qarlbo Energy, via its subsidiary Hydri, aims to establish a nationwide network, stretching from Trelleborg in the south to Kiruna in the north.

Upcoming openings include locations in Götene, Värnamo, Nykvarn, and Hallandsåsen.

We strive to enable the transition to fossil-free solutions across the entire value chain, with hydrogen playing a crucial role, particularly in heavy transport. However, without a refueling infrastructure, hydrogen trucks cannot operate on our roads. We are taking responsibility for hydrogen distribution and are pleased to have strong partners, such as Volvo Trucks, supporting our mission. This sends a clear message to haulage companies and transport buyers: the solution exists and is expanding — here and now, said Michel Thomas.

For Gothenburg-headed heavy-duty vehicle (HDV) major Volvo Trucks, hydrogen-powered vehicles are a key part of its strategy and future development, and the company welcomes the growing network of hydrogen refueling stations in the region.

We see the need for multiple technologies to reduce carbon emissions in heavy transport. Our customers will be able to choose solutions based on transport assignments, available infrastructure, and the cost of green energy. Hydrogen-powered trucks will complement our battery-electric trucks, where internal combustion engines running on green hydrogen will achieve net-zero CO₂ emissions. We look forward to the availability of fuel-cell electric trucks in the second half of this decade. For this technology to truly take off, investments like those from Qarlbo Energy are essential. A robust refueling infrastructure is a critical component for the transition to hydrogen and fossil-free transport, and we are glad to see Qarlbo Energy leading the way, said Niclas Johnson, Sales Manager at Volvo Trucks Sweden.

Using CLT for sustainable station building

Hydri has chosen to use cross-laminated timber (CLT) from Södra for the construction of several new hydrogen stations, including in Värnamo, Hallandsåsen, and Ödeshög.

At Hydri, we are very optimistic about the development of infrastructure for renewable fuels, where hydrogen plays a key role. By building stations with sustainable materials like CLT, we strengthen our ambition to contribute to the green transition and create long-term climate solutions for both national and international traffic, said Peter Enå, CEO at Hydri.

These green hydrogen stations are part of the nationwide initiative that creates a joint business that drives the transition to renewable solutions on commercial grounds.

We have a very exciting partnership with Hydri, whose values align in many ways with Södra’s. We are creating a joint business that drives the transition to renewable solutions on commercial grounds. We also show that standardization with a focus on optimized material utilization creates competitive solutions from an economic perspective, said Andreas Berge, Business Area Manager at Södra Building Systems.

CLT from Södra is a locally produced building material that offers several advantages.

Thanks to its low weight, fewer transports are required, allowing more panels to be loaded per transport.

The assembly is quick and easy, providing a safe working environment while being cost-effective.

Additionally, the total carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions associated with the building are reduced, as the CLT continues to store the inherent carbon contained in the wood throughout its lifespan.

It feels important to collaborate with actors who contribute to the green transition in society. In our own operations as a producer and supplier of CLT, it is the transports that account for the largest amount of fossil emissions. Hydri’s expansion of infrastructure for green hydrogen aligns with our own climate goals of halving our fossil emissions by 2030, said Ola Landqvist, Business Developer at Södra Building Systems.

Public co-funding

The establishment of hydrogen refueling stations is being executed by Hydri, a subsidiary of Qarlbo Energy that is co-owned by global investment companies Qarlbo AB and FAM AB.

The filling stations are being financed by Qarlbo Energy with investment support from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency’s “Climate Step” program.