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    Plug Power supplying Green Hydrogen for Walmart H2-powered Lift Trucks at Distribution, Fulfillment Centers

    April 19, 2022
    Green H2 supply firm Plug Power will deliver up to 20 tons per day for use by lift trucks in Walmart distribution and fulfillment centers across the U.S.
    Image credit Walmart
    Walmart Distribut Center Bentonville 625f0a2ef2789

    Walmart will power many of its material handling lift trucks with liquid green hydrogen under a new supply agreement announced Tuesday.

    Green H2 supply firm Plug Power will deliver up to 20 tons per day for use by lift trucks in Walmart distribution and fulfillment centers across the U.S. Hydrogen does not emit carbon dioxide but is considered green only if it’s produced by electrolysis powered by zero-carbon resources such as wind, solar, hydro or nuclear.

    “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. We are honored to expand our relationship with Walmart and realize our shared vision for a green hydrogen future.”

    Plug Power will supply liquid green hydrogen to fuel up to 9,500 lift trucks (forklifts) across Walmart distribution and fulfillment centers, supporting the retailer’s goal of a zero emissions future by 2040.

    “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, Walmart Senior Director of Supply Chain Maintenance Services. “Sourcing green hydrogen can help bring Walmart closer to reaching our goal of zero emissions by 2040.”’

    Walmart has worked with Plug Power to adopt and expand hydrogen fuel cells throughout its facilities for over a decade, beginning with a 50-fleet pilot in 2012 and expanding to a fleet of 9,500 and growing.

    Plug Power will manufacture the green hydrogen itself with its own electrolyzer technology.

    About the Author

    EnergyTech Staff

    Rod Walton is senior editor for EnergyTech.com. He has spent 14 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist.

    Walton formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

    He can be reached at [email protected]. 

    EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids.

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.