Walmart to power material handling lift trucks with green hydrogen
Walmart continues to switch to alternative zero-carbon energy sources throughout its supply chain.
The retail giant has signed an agreement with Plug Power for an option to deliver up to 20 tons per day of liquid green hydrogen to power up to 9,500 material handling lift trucks across Walmart’s U.S. distribution and fulfillment centers.
“Hydrogen is critical to helping us power a more sustainable supply chain and Plug Power’s hydrogen solutions allow us to continue making progress,” said Jeff Smith, senior director of supply chain maintenance Services. “Sourcing green hydrogen can help bring Walmart closer to reaching our goal of zero emissions by 2040.”
[Read More: Walmart sets big new goal: Zero emissions by 2040]
Walmart has worked with Plug Power to adopt and expand hydrogen fuel cells throughout its facilities for more than a decade, starting with a 50-fleet pilot in 2012 and expanding to a fleet of 9,500 and growing. The retailer is continuing to decarbonize its operations by striving to incorporate the use of green hydrogen throughout its facilities, in an effort to pursue lift truck operations that are efficient, clean, quiet and most importantly, more sustainable
“Walmart has been an early adopter of innovative hydrogen and fuel cell technology for over a decade, and our hydrogen-powered solutions offer a tool to enhance productivity improvements for Walmart’s operations,” said Andy Marsh, CEO of Plug. “Now our green hydrogen solutions will provide Walmart with the ability to achieve significant carbon reduction.
Green hydrogen is produced through the electrolysis of water with electricity generated from zero-carbon sources and only harmless oxygen is emitted during the process, making it a clean, secure and affordable energy solution. Through Plug’s investment in its vertically integrated green hydrogen ecosystem, the company will deliver green hydrogen to Walmart facilities using a fleet of liquid transport Plug has put into service using capabilities gained from its recent acquisition of Applied Cryo Technologies.