Popular content

Chariot de manutention hydrogène
Commitments
18/11/2024
The estimated reading time is 2 minutes

STEF accelerates its transition to green energy with hydrogen

Since September 2024, STEF has equipped its Athis-Mons (France) and Madrid (Spain) sites with hydrogen-powered handling trucks. These projects optimize the efficiency of our operations and further STEF's commitment to sustainable logistics.

 

Chariot de manutention hydrogène

A pioneering approach for the Group
 

Gone are the lead-acid batteries, replaced by hydrogen fuel cells!

In Athis-Mons and Madrid, STEF has deployed a fleet of forklifts equipped with hydrogen fuel cells, a first for the Group. This advance contributes not only to reducing our carbon footprint, but also to promoting the use of alternative energies in the Group's logistics. 

Apart from its virtuous nature, the use of hydrogen as an energy source offers a number of advantages over traditional batteries:

  • Improved productivity: hydrogen-powered forklifts offer extended range and optimum performance in cold environments, outperforming lead-acid batteries. What's more, hydrogen-powered forklifts can be refueled in less than 3 minutes, compared with the several minutes required to change batteries on electric forklifts. This reduces downtime for operators.
     
  • Increased autonomy and flexibility: a single charge enables trucks to work continuously for longer, since fuel cells perform better than lead-acid batteries.
     
  • Convenience for teams: unlike traditional batteries, fuel cells require no handling to recharge. Operators can fill them with hydrogen directly "at the pump" , simplifying their work and reducing the risk of accidents associated with heavy battery changes.
     
  • A more sustainable solution: on average, a fuel cell has a lifespan of 10 years, twice as long as lead-acid batteries, reducing replacement requirements and the ecological footprint.
     

 

We have high expectations of these first two projects, which are designed to increase the comfort and safety of STEF operators when changing shifts, by avoiding battery changes and improving the intralogistics efficiency of our warehouses.

Vincent Kirklar
Director of IMMOSTEF

A model for green hydrogen produced on site

At the Madrid site, the introduction of hydrogen-powered forklifts goes even further. The hydrogen used is produced directly on site using an electrolyzer. This process converts water into hydrogen by electrolysis, reducing dependence on external hydrogen sources and minimizing the costs and emissions associated with transporting this fuel.

The other major feature of this project is its ecological character: the electricity needed to run the electrolyzer comes mainly from the photovoltaic plant installed on the site's roof. This facility produces electricity from solar energy, making the hydrogen produced on the Madrid site green and local. This model further reduces the carbon footprint of our activities and makes Madrid an example of sustainable logistics.

Hydrogen production scheme
Remplissage chariot hydrogène
Remplissage chariot hydrogène

Hydrogen: a solution for the future

Energy is a crucial issue for our business because of its environmental and economic weight. By harnessing green hydrogen in Athis-Mons and Madrid, STEF is taking a new step towards a more sustainable and efficient logistics model. These two projects are perfectly in line with our Moving Green climate initiative, one of whose objectives is to use 100% low-carbon energy in our buildings by the end of 2025. 


To carry out these projects, STEF and Blue EnerFreeze, the Group's energy subsidiary, have joined forces with two partners who are experts in their field:

These initiatives reflect our vision of combining respect for the environment with optimized performance to meet tomorrow's challenges.

These initiatives are just the beginning. Committed for over 15 years to reducing our environmental impact, we continue to invest in green technologies and strengthen its partnerships to build a more sustainable future for temperature-controlled logistics.
 

These projects in Athis-Mons and Madrid testify to our determination to go even further in our approach to energy transition. By choosing green hydrogen to power our handling equipment, we are affirming our commitment to more environmentally-friendly logistics, and turning STEF resolutely towards a more sustainable future.

Benjamin Dumont
Managing Director of Blue Enerfreeze

To go further

Our commitments to the planet

Find out more about our Moving Green approach

L'oeil de l'expert

Transition énergétique : quel avenir pour le transport routier ?