H2MAC at SMOPYC 2026: Hydrogen transforms the future of heavy machinery

The Aragon Hydrogen Foundation (FHa) has achieved a major milestone at SMOPYC 2026, the International Exhibition of Public Works, Construction, and Mining Machinery. Amidst an audience of over 60,000 visitors, the European project H2MAC stood out as a premier solution for decarbonizing the heavy-duty sector through hydrogen fuel cell technology.

Innovation in High-Impact Environments

The H2MAC project is moving beyond theory into operational reality. During the event held at Feria de Zaragoza, the consortium detailed the adaptation of two industrial units—an excavator and a crusher—specifically designed to run on hydrogen. These prototypes are set to undergo 1,000 hours of real-world testing in extreme mining conditions, proving that zero-emission technologies can meet the demands of the non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) sector without compromising performance or autonomy.

Key Highlights from SMOPYC 2026

The participation of the consortium, including partners such as ITA (Technological Institute of Aragon) and ANMOPYC, featured strategic activities to solidify the region’s position as a green energy hub:

• Technical Sessions: Leading discussions on the role of hydrogen as a critical energy vector for heavy machinery.

• International Outreach: High-level interviews with the Zaragoza Chamber of Commerce and international press delegations from the UK, Germany, and Southeast Asia.

• Consortium Meeting: Experts coordinated the next steps for hydrogen refueling logistics and the assembly of the prototypes, scheduled to begin later this year.

“The 1,000-hour demonstration in a real quarry will be the ultimate test for hydrogen fuel cell viability in heavy-duty machinery,” representatives from the Aragon Hydrogen Foundation stated.