CleanH2Shipping is a European innovation project (2025–2028) that demonstrates zero-emission inland shipping powered by hydrogen fuel cells. At its core is the use of smart, swappable H2Tank-Tainers—modular hydrogen containers that enable fast, flexible, and scalable refuelling. The project brings together partners from four EU countries, covering the entire value chain from ports and technology providers to ship operators and research institutions.

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To showcase the potential of hydrogen for inland and short-sea shipping, the project integrates a 0.6 MW fuel cell system into the inland container vessel Sylvania, operating it for 2,000 hours under real conditions on the Rhine. Alongside the technical demonstration, CleanH2Shipping develops a connected hydrogen ecosystem, conducts techno-economic and lifecycle assessments, and actively engages with policymakers to support harmonised hydrogen regulations across Europe.

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The project addresses key barriers to hydrogen adoption—such as high CAPEX and OPEX and regulatory uncertainty—by building a cost-efficient, interoperable, and scalable solution. CleanH2Shipping paves the way for a cleaner, more sustainable future in inland waterway transport.