Hitachi Energy and Air Products Unveil Hydrogen-Powered Construction Site in the Netherlands

Hitachi Energy and Air Products Unveil Hydrogen-Powered Construction Site in the Netherlands

William Faulkner 30-Jul-2025

Hitachi Energy and Air Products debut HyFlex hydrogen generator in the Netherlands, advancing zero-emission construction through cross-sector collaboration.

Hitachi Energy Ltd., headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, and Air Products, based in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, have jointly introduced HyFlex, a cutting-edge hydrogen-powered generator featuring zero-emission fuel cell technology. This significant milestone was marked by its debut in the Netherlands and represents a major leap toward cleaner, more sustainable construction practices. The launch highlights the value of collaborative efforts across industries in promoting decarbonization within traditionally high-emission sectors.

The demonstration brought together a powerful alliance of stakeholders, including Air Products—the world’s largest hydrogen supplier; Hitachi Construction Machinery—the maker of the ZE135 battery-electric excavator; and Dura Vermeer—a frontrunner in sustainable and innovative construction. Together with Hitachi Energy, these organizations formed a unified ecosystem to showcase how hydrogen-powered technologies can be seamlessly integrated into real-world construction environments.

Green hydrogen is fast emerging as a central pillar in the global energy transition. Its unique characteristics as a clean, versatile energy carrier make it particularly valuable for decarbonizing industrial sectors that are difficult to electrify directly. With the construction industry responsible for over one-third of all global energy-related CO2 emissions—and emissions from building operations still on the rise—adopting alternative power sources has become imperative.

Government regulations and policies are also pushing the momentum forward. Initiatives like the European Union’s revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, Oslo’s stringent climate requirements for construction sites, and the Dutch roadmap for zero-emission construction equipment reflect growing policy support for clean alternatives to diesel-based generators.

The HyFlex system developed by Hitachi Energy offers a compelling alternative. It generates electricity, usable heat, and water without relying on combustion, thus eliminating harmful emissions and operating with minimal noise—ideal for urban and environmentally sensitive zones. A 500 kVA HyFlex unit can displace up to 800 tons of diesel fuel annually, preventing approximately 2,900 tons of CO2 emissions. To produce one megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity, the system consumes roughly 70 kilograms of green hydrogen.

Caroline Stancell, Vice President of Marketing and Growth Programmes for Europe and Africa at Air Products, emphasized the significance of the collaboration: “This initiative demonstrates that hydrogen-powered solutions are not only practical but already capable of operating effectively in real-world settings. It's a critical step in decarbonizing sectors often viewed as difficult to transition.”

Marco Berardi, Head of Grid & Power Quality Solutions and Service at Hitachi Energy, echoed the sentiment: “Our mission is to enable a sustainable energy future. The HyFlex launch in the Netherlands exemplifies how industry cooperation can accelerate change. We are proud to be at the forefront of this movement.”

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