A shore power pilot project was recently conducted at the Steinweg Beatrix Terminal in the Port of Rotterdam,  where Cargow’s vessels have been connected to moveable battery containers. 

The pilot builds on the previous experiment that took place on Parkkade in late 2019 or early 2020. This time, the focus was on connecting vessels of the Cargow shipping company, which have a higher energy demand compared to the vessels involved in the initial pilot. Additionally, the pilot occurred at an operational terminal instead of a public dock. The battery containers used in this pilot are from Zero Emission Services, a company known for its battery electric-powered inland vessels. This pilot has the potential to create a new revenue model involving shore power for Zero Emission Services.

Market participants have conducted tests and showcased their technology in these two trials. The incorporation of different technological elements on land and on the ship, as well as the optimization of the logistics behind the movable concept, have proven to be especially meaningful.

Utilizing shore power provided by movable batteries is technically possible and could serve as a technical alternative to a standard shore power connection. However, the cost of such a project is higher than that of a standard shore power connection, so it is expected to be used only in locations where grid electricity is unavailable.

The pilot project was partially funded by government subsidies from the National Air Quality Cooperation Programme. The goal is to enhance air quality, particularly in urban areas.

The pilot was coordinated by the Port of Rotterdam Authority, which is now collaborating with the Municipality of Rotterdam to investigate potential uses for adaptable shore power concepts. The port authority said its focus is primarily on areas where flexible concepts are more effective than fixed connections, or where a fixed connection is not yet feasible due to grid congestion on the power grid.