The European Union (EU) is committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050 under the European Green Deal, with an interim target of a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Progress has been made, with emissions reduced by 28.3% between 1990 and 2019, largely due to renewables, energy efficiency, and structural economic shifts. However, transport and Non-Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM) remain significant sources of emissions.
NRMM—including construction, mining, and agricultural equipment—contributes disproportionately to air pollution, emitting CO, NOx, particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Hydrogen fuel cells (FCs) offer a scalable, high-power, zero-emission solution, particularly for heavy-duty sectors where batteries are insufficient. Decarbonizing large equipment is essential, and hydrogen-based technologies provide a strategic pathway to reduce emissions, protect public health, and strengthen EU industrial competitiveness.
The H2MAC project focuses on the design and demonstration of two hydrogen fuel cell (FC)-powered non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) prototypes for mining and construction applications, namely: an excavator and a shredder. Both machines will integrate modular FC powertrains, with the excavator employing a single module and the shredder utilizing two modules, for scalability demonstration.
The primary objective is to validate the reliability, durability, and scalability of complete FC powertrain systems under harsh environmental conditions and in contexts with limited grid access. To this end, a simultaneous 1,000-hour demonstration of both machines in a quarry (real-environment) is foreseen.
The demonstrations will also support regulatory and standardization activities, paving the way for hydrogen FC technology adoption in broader NRMM applications.
Anticipated impacts include substantial greenhouse gas reductions (≥30 tons CO2-eq/year for the excavator and 138.4 tons CO2-eq/year for the shredder), optimized hydrogen consumption (2.54 tonnes/year and 11.78 tonnes/year, respectively), and significant noise reduction (up to –11 dB(A)).
To achieve these objectives, the project will develop a robust balance-of-plant (BoP) tailored to extreme construction and mining conditions (e.g. vibration, dust, mud). Novel protective and conditioning systems will be engineered, validated virtually, tested in laboratories, and subjected to accelerated life testing. Special emphasis will be placed on vibration isolation and high particle concentration resilience.
Finally, H2MAC will address the current lack of hydrogen-related NRMM standards by contributing to the development of interoperable and transparent practices, with active participation in the standardization technical committees CEN/CLC/JTC 6 (ISO/TC 197), CLC/SR 105 (IEC/TC 105) and CEN/TC 151 (ISO/TC 127). The project will establish a foundation for the commercial deployment of FC-powered NRMM, thereby accelerating hydrogen technology adoption across off-road industry sectors.
