The Port Authority of Rotterdam has announced that the first inland vessel powered entirely by ZES technology will sail with zero emissions between Den Bosch, the Maasvlakte, and Moerdijk (The Netherlands).
For electric sailing with standard 20-foot modular energy containers (ZESpacks), a fixed battery package will be installed.
The vessel, the Den Bosch Max Groen, is 90 metres long and was prepared for electric sailing during construction. Initiators Inland Terminals Group (ITG), Nedcargo, and Zero Emission Services (ZES) announced that another four vessels will follow.
Green energy will be used to power the ZESpacks via ZES’ latest generation of 2x 1MVA charging stations.
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These charging stations and ZESpacks reportedly include a 1 Megawatt Charging System (MCS) connection, allowing ZESpacks to be charged in under three hours.
According to the Port of Rotterdam, green energy will be provided on the basis of Dutch Guarantee of Origin certificates, and the use of ZESpacks will be based on an innovative pay-per-use billing model.
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The electrification of the Den Bosch Max Groen is estimated to lower the operation’s yearly emissions by 715 tonnes of CO2 and 13 tonnes of NOx.
Following that, with the extension of the fleet to five zero-emission vessels, the decrease will be boosted even further.
In the first quarter of 2024, the first charging station will be built at the BCTN port in Alblasserdam. Charging stations will be installed at Den Bosch (BCTN terminal), Moerdijk, and the Prins Johan Friso Port in Rotterdam shortly after.
