06.03.2026
Hydrogen demand is set to grow 8x by 2030. But is your logistics capability ready?
Hydrogen demand across the UK and Europe is projected to substantially grow by 2030.
According to the UK Hydrogen Strategy, the UK is targeting up to 10GW of low-carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030, while the European Commission’s REPowerEU plan sets a target of 10 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen production across the EU by the same date.
Governments in both the UK and in Europe have identified hydrogen as a cornerstone of their net-zero strategies. Industrial clusters are preparing for decarbonisation and transport sectors are exploring alternatives to diesel. Investment in green hydrogen production continues to rapidly accelerate.
Yet amid the policy announcements and production targets, one critical question remains: Is the logistics infrastructure ready to support that growth?
Hydrogen production capacity is expanding. But without safe, scalable hydrogen transportation networks, supply cannot reach industrial users. For developers and investors across the UK and EU, hydrogen logistics is no longer an operational afterthought — it is a strategic priority.
The hydrogen opportunity in the UK and Germany
Hydrogen is expected to play a central role in decarbonising sectors that are difficult to electrify, including:
- High-temperature industrial processes
- Heavy goods vehicles and buses
- Non-electrified rail
- Dispatchable power generation
The UK Government’s hydrogen strategy identifies low-carbon, green hydrogen as essential to achieving its net-zero targets. And in Germany, hydrogen is embedded within long-term industrial transformation and energy security planning.
Production technologies are advancing and the cost of green hydrogen is falling as renewable electricity expands. Public funding and private capital continue to enter the sector; however, hydrogen infrastructure remains fragmented.
Pipeline networks are limited across both the UK and much of continental Europe. Many production plants are geographically dispersed or in early-stage development. As a result, road-based hydrogen transportation will play a fundamental role in enabling market growth as we head towards 2030 and that’s why Oxalis Logistics have recently been investing in new Hydrogen logistics solutions for our industrial and retail customers.
Why hydrogen transportation is technically challenging
Hydrogen logistics is fundamentally different from conventional fuel transport. Industry guidance from organisations such as the European Industrial Gases Association (EIGA) highlights the technical requirements associated with compressed and liquid hydrogen transport.
In summary, Hydrogen is the lightest element, which gives it a very low density. So, to make transportation viable, it must either be:
- Compressed to high pressures (typically 180–380 bar, with higher pressures emerging), or
- Liquefied at approximately –253°C
Both options require specialist containment systems and highly controlled loading and discharge procedures.
Hydrogen is also highly flammable, demanding rigorous safety protocols and regulatory compliance.
Alternative hydrogen carriers such as ammonia or Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHC) may offer different transport profiles, but they introduce additional infrastructure requirements at loading and unloading facilities.
In every scenario, hydrogen transportation requires:
- Specialist trailers
- ADR-compliant operations
- Highly trained drivers
- Advanced monitoring and risk management systems
The success of hydrogen growth across the UK and EU will depend not only on production capacity, but on the ability to move the product safely and efficiently.
Hydrogen logistics regulatory and compliance landscape
Transporting hydrogen across the UK and Europe requires compliance with ADR regulations governing the carriage of dangerous goods by road. Operations may also align with International Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP) standards.
For energy partners, deep regulatory knowledge matters.
Hydrogen projects operate under intense scrutiny. Investors, insurers and regulators expect demonstrable compliance systems, documented procedures and structured safety governance.
This is where experience in hazardous fuel and gas transportation becomes critical.
So, who are Oxalis Logistics Group?
Oxalis Logistics Group is a leading international provider of bulk fuels, gases, and bitumen, logistics services, operating across the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, and Continental Europe.
For decades, we have safely transported fuels and pressurised gases for large blue chip companies, major retailers, aviation operators and industrial customers. Our operations are built around ADR compliance, structured SHEQ management and cross-border coordination.
We operate a fleet of more than 1000 specialist tankers and employ thousands of highly trained colleagues across Europe. Every day, we manage the transportation of complex hazardous materials across the UK and Germany.
Hydrogen may be an emerging energy carrier — but the operational disciplines required to move it safely are not new to us.
Our experience in gas transportation expertise and bulk fuel logistics services provides a directly transferable foundation for hydrogen logistics in both UK and European markets. Which is why more recently, Oxalis Logistics Group have been providing logistics solutions for Hydrogen, for industrial customers, as well as for retail sites.
Building a scalable hydrogen supply chain
Hydrogen developers often focus on electrolyser capacity and funding milestones. Yet as projects move from pilot to commercial scale, logistics planning becomes a defining factor.
We typically support the “last mile” of the energy supply chain — transporting product from the production plant to the end user.
In a hydrogen context, this means collaborating with partners to design delivery models that are:
- Safe
- Flexible
- Cost-effective
- Scalable
- Sustainable
Hydrogen start-ups frequently face high capital expenditure and cash flow pressures. An inflexible logistics model can quickly limit growth. The objective is to identify the optimal fleet size, introduce operational flexibility and create a structure that evolves alongside production output. That’s why at Oxalis Logistics, we are willing and able to invest in specialist Hydrogen trailers to support our client’s requirements.
Across the UK and Germany, industrial clusters may require cross-border transport capability. Our established European network enables coordinated operations between markets when required.
Technology-enabled hydrogen transportation
Hydrogen logistics demands visibility and control.
We integrate advanced digital systems across our operations, including ATOSS resource planning platforms, compliance management tools, real-time telematics, transport management systems and route optimisation systems.
Our fleet benefits from CAN Bus-enabled telematics, intrinsically safe in-cab Samsung technology and Sygic Satellite Navigation to support drivers and AddSecure Verilocation HGV tracking.
This data-driven approach delivers measurable benefits.
- Real-time tracking and visibility enhance safety oversight and ensure consistent service levels
- Telematics improves our sustainability, truck performance and driver efficiency
- Digital compliance systems ensure visibility of critical performance data.
For hydrogen investors and industrial users, operational transparency is essential. It provides assurance that safety, service levels and regulatory standards are being maintained at all times.
Preparing for 2030, and beyond
The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects substantial growth in hydrogen demand globally by 2030 and beyond as industrial decarbonisation accelerates.
For logistics providers, this creates both responsibility and opportunity.
From a hydrogen perspective, we are ready, willing and able to invest in specialist trailer assets when commercial partnerships are secured. We already have a bank of experienced ADR-trained personnel and an embedded safety culture aligned to hazardous gas transportation.
Hydrogen operations across the UK and Germany may still be developing, but transport solutions will become critical as production facilities come online.
The key question for energy partners is whether their logistics strategy is ready to support that growth. Hydrogen logistics requires more than vehicles. It requires operational discipline, in-depth knowledge of compliance, structured safety governance and cross-border capability.
At Oxalis Logistics Group, our experience across bulk fuel logistics, gas and now hydrogen transportation provides a proven framework for managing high-risk energy carriers. We understand the regulatory environment in both the UK and Germany. We operate within established ADR-compliant systems and we manage complex hazardous materials operations daily.
As well as stock management and planning led by our highly experienced management team who uphold our gold standard operational compliance record, we already operate in a number of new markets as the trusted transport partner for biofuels, biogases and cylinders. These are across multiple sectors, including aviation, manufacturing and retail.
That foundation reduces risk for hydrogen developers at early stages and provides scalability for long-term growth.
Is your hydrogen logistics strategy ready?
As hydrogen projects move toward final investment decisions across the UK and EU, logistics planning should be part of early-stage feasibility discussions.
Are you a hydrogen startup, developer or investor? It may be useful to take the time to consider the answers to these key questions:
- How will hydrogen be transported safely from production to the end user?
- Is the delivery model scalable as output increases?
- Does your logistics partner have established ADR Hydrogen expertise?
- Can operations adapt across borders, if required?
Hydrogen may be the fuel of the future — but its success depends on reliable, compliant and scalable logistics today. If you are exploring hydrogen transportation solutions in the UK, Germany or wider Europe, contact Joel Griffin at Oxalis Logistics Group to discuss our bespoke hydrogen logistics solutions.
Whatever your logistics challenge, Oxalis Logistics are poised and ready to make it our challenge too.