Sweden opens first connected hydrogen highway for heavy transport

Sweden has reached an important milestone for hydrogen mobility. With the opening of a new refuelling station near Nyköping, network builder Hydri adds its tenth site, completing the country's first connected hydrogen highway network. Trucks can now refuel green hydrogen along the main corridors.

From standalone stations to a network

The real news lies in the connection. Standalone stations are useful, but only a connected network makes commercial long-distance freight possible. With the new site near Nyköping, located at a strategic junction, that network is now complete. The stations are largely built at locations of Rasta, Sweden's largest truck-stop chain, which receives around 15,000 heavy vehicles daily at well-known spots along the major roads.

100% green hydrogen

All of Hydri's stations supply 100% green hydrogen, made with renewable energy. The hydrogen is produced on-site via electrolysis: green electricity splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. By organising part of that production off-grid, the electricity grid can be relieved, a welcome feature at a time of grid congestion. The stations operate at multiple pressure levels (350 and 700 bar), serving both heavy vehicles and passenger cars.

Why it matters

Domestic transport accounts for around a third of Sweden's CO2 emissions, and roughly 95% of heavy trucks still run on diesel. Precisely for heavy, long-distance transport that is hard to electrify, hydrogen offers a solution: a generous range and fast refuelling. According to Hydri, each station can save up to 8 million kg of CO2 per year.

A piece of the transition puzzle

The opening fits a larger ambition. Hydri is working on a nationwide network that will ultimately stretch from Trelleborg in the south to Kiruna in the north. After the first phase, a second expansion with additional stations is planned between 2026 and 2028. Truck manufacturers such as Scania and Volvo Trucks are closely involved and see the growing network as a precondition for getting hydrogen trucks on the road.

Alongside battery-electric driving, this Swedish network is a great illustration of how hydrogen can be a complementary, zero-emission route, precisely in heavy transport where electrification meets its limits. With this network, Scandinavia takes a concrete step forward.

Sources

• Hydri – hydri.energy
• Fuel Cells Works – fuelcellsworks.com
• Qarlbo Energy – qarlbo.com
• Bioenergy International – bioenergyinternational.com
• Maximator Hydrogen – maximator-hydrogen.de