Daimler Truck, MB Energy, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries Sign JDA to Develop Liquefied Hydrogen Supply Chain to Europe via Hamburg by Early 2030s

July 12, 2026

Daimler Truck Germany

Overview

Daimler Truck, MB Energy, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries have signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to establish an economically viable liquefied hydrogen supply chain to Europe via the Port of Hamburg. The goal is to achieve Commercial Operation Date (COD) for liquefied hydrogen supply by the early 2030s. Kawasaki will provide expertise in hydrogen liquefiers, storage tanks, and LH2 carrier ships.

In Depth

Key Findings

Daimler Truck, MB Energy, and Japan’s Kawasaki Heavy Industries have announced the signing of a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to establish a liquefied hydrogen (LH2) supply chain to Europe. This strategic alliance aims to achieve Commercial Operation Date (COD) for LH2 supply via the Port of Hamburg by the early 2030s, specifically targeting the acceleration of decarbonization in heavy-duty transport.

Technical / Clinical Details

Leveraging LH2 Technology: Kawasaki Heavy Industries will contribute its global expertise in the design and manufacturing of hydrogen liquefiers, large-scale LH2 storage tanks, and LH2 carrier ships. Liquefied hydrogen, with its higher energy density compared to gaseous hydrogen, plays a crucial role in enabling efficient long-distance transport and large-volume storage, which are essential for building a global supply chain.
Hamburg as a Hub: The Port of Hamburg is designated to function as a key logistics hub in Northern Europe, serving as a central point for LH2 imports, storage, regasification, and distribution to land-based transport. This strengthens its role as a gateway for hydrogen supply across the European continent.

Background & Context

As the global push for decarbonization intensifies, the demand for clean hydrogen is rapidly increasing, particularly in the transport and heavy industry sectors. Europe aims to import green hydrogen from regions rich in renewable energy resources, and long-distance transport via LH2 is identified as one of the viable solutions. This partnership exemplifies how multiple industrial players can collaborate to construct complex, cross-continental supply chains.

Strategic Significance & Outlook

This Joint Development Agreement will accelerate the utilization of LH2 in Europe and create concrete business opportunities, such as securing fuel supply for Daimler Truck’s fuel cell vehicles. The combination of Kawasaki Heavy Industries’ advanced technology with Daimler Truck’s and MB Energy’s influence in the European market is expected to expedite the realization of the LH2 supply chain. If successful, this initiative will establish a benchmark for the global LH2 economy, making a significant contribution to a sustainable energy transition.

Source: https://www.daimlertruck.com/en/newsroom/pressrelease/daimler-truck-mb-energy-and-kawasaki-heavy-industries-signed-agreement-to-develop-liquefied-hydrogen-supply-chain-to-europe-via-hamburg-53467162

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