A group of companies, including Wärtsilä, ING Bank, Engie, and the Port of Rotterdam Authority, launched a new consortium - the Zero Emission Services B.V. (ZES), with the goal to develop zero-emission inland waterway shipping in the Netherlands.
The idea is to develop a fully electric barge with replaceable battery containers "ZESPacks", which would be able to go 50-100 km (31-62 miles) and then swap the pack... containers for a fully charged.
It's like EV battery swapping, just on a massive scale.
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A single ZESPack would have a capacity of about 2 MWh, while the power needed by the arge is usually 500-1,000 kW. It means 2-4 hours of work between swaps.
It's expected that the ZESPack capacity will be guaranteed for 10 years and after 10 years, once capacity is reduced by 20%, the container will be ready to continue its life as energy storage.
The cool thing about the concept is that it allows keeping the costs of barges under control (compared to a long-range version), allows use of renewable electricity and utilizes the ZESPack as energy storage for grid purposes when not in use for a while.
On the other hand, there is a necessity to build a network of stations along the route and pay the associated cost for the system.
"A network of open access charging points will be set up for exchanging depleted battery containers for ready-charged replacements, thereby keeping waiting time to a minimum. The ZESPacks are designed for multiple applications, enabling them to be utilised for temporary onshore use, such as stabilising the local electricity grid or meeting short-term demand for electrical power."
The consortium seems to think also about using a hydrogen version of the ZESPack:
"The system is future-proof since it is independent of the energy provider. Initially batteries will be employed but should, for example, hydrogen become a viable alternative at some point, containers equipped with hydrogen technology could supply power in the same way."
The first route was already selected and, as it turns out, the first potential customers already signed on (HEINEKEN beer company).
"The project will initially be employed along the Zoeterwoude – Alpherium – Moerdijk corridor. Following this, it will be expanded to include the Amsterdam – Rotterdam – Antwerp corridor, making a connection to Nijmegen. The emphasis during the initial stage will be on converted and newly-built container carriers.
The HEINEKEN beer company has entered into an agreement with ZES to utilise the service for transporting beer from its brewery in Zoeterwoude to Moerdijk, thus becoming the first end customer for the enterprise."
Sources: Wärtsilä via Green Car Congress, ZES (Zero Emission Services)
Key players develop emission-free navigation solution for barges
First fully electric inland vessels to sail with new energy system this year
Rotterdam, 2 June 2020 – Today, Zero Emission Services B.V. (ZES) was founded. ZES is introducing a new energy system for making inland shipping more sustainable. This will be realized with emission-free navigation infrastructure that is accessible to everyone. Clean, climate-neutral and ready to compete with fossil fuels. ZES offers a complete range of products and services, based on interchangeable battery containers charged with renewable power, charging stations, technical support and an innovative payment concept for ship owners. The company was founded by ING bank, energy and technical service provider ENGIE, maritime technology company Wärtsilä and the Port of Rotterdam Authority. The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management supports this first step in the transition to emission-free inland shipping. The HEINEKEN beer company has entered into an agreement with ZES, who will be providing emission-free beer transports from the brewery in Zoeterwoude to Moerdijk for ten years – a vital vote of end customer confidence.
The Paris Climate Agreement calls for a more sustainable transport sector. Today, the Dutch transport sector is collectively responsible for 21% of all carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the Netherlands. Within the transport sector, inland navigation makes up 5% of carbon dioxide emissions. The Green Deal Zeevaart, Binnenvaart en Havens (Maritime, Inland Shipping and Ports) includes agreements that aim to make inland shipping more sustainable. With a transformation from diesel-powered inland shipping to fully electrically powered transport, the inland shipping sector is taking an important step towards realizing climate agreement goals. In addition, electric barges will no longer emit nitrogen oxide.
Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, states: “The Netherlands is frontrunner in sustainable transport by water. More than a third of all goods and 80% of bulk transportation takes place via inland waterways. Not only does this lessen truck transportation, which reduces traffic, inland vessels also emit significantly less CO2. That advance is extended even further with these new emission-free ships.”
How does it work?
Willem Dedden, CEO of Zero Emission Services: “With ZES, we are introducing a systemic change in inland navigation, allowing barges to sail emission-free thanks to replaceable battery containers. These ‘ZESPacks’ are charged with sustainably generated power. A network of open access charging points will be set up for exchanging battery containers. Here, depleted ZESPacks are exchanged for full ones, so that ships can sail on quickly, with minimal waiting time. The energy containers are designed for multiple applications, so they can also be temporarily used on shore to stabilise the electricity grid or to meet momentary local demand for electricity. The system is future-proof because it is independent of the energy carrier. We will start out using batteries, but if hydrogen becomes cheaper in the future, hydrogen technology-equipped containers with will be able to supply power in the same way.
Low threshold through innovative financing
In order to make the transition to emission-free sailing easier for skippers, an innovative ‘pay per use’-based financing model has been developed. As a result, ZES only charges the cost of consumed renewable energy and a battery container rental fee, so that the skipper’s operating costs remain competitive. However, ships must be equipped with an electric propulsion line.
This systemic change involves a total cost of € 20 million for the first phase. Financial supported is provided by ING bank, ENGIE, Wärtsilä, the Port of Rotterdam Authority and the Dutch government. The government’s contribution is in the form of a grant from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Works and a grant from the Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland supporting the goal of making transport more sustainable.
Additional support comes from HEINEKEN, in the shape of a long-term transport agreement and an initial contribution to the development costs of a first ship operated by its carrier CCT. CCT will not charge any handling costs for the loading and unloading of the first ship.
A strong team effort, in which all parties have contributed to making this systemic transition financially feasible and ensuring the lowest possible threshold for skippers, ship owners and forwarders to make the switch.
First order
HEINEKEN has been involved as a forwarder since the initial development of the system and is now the first end customer to sail with this new system. The first ship will be used to transport beer from the HEINEKEN brewery in Zoeterwoude via the inland shipping terminal Alpherium to the port of Moerdijk. HEINEKEN considers it important to contribute to the development of clean climate-neutral logistics with sustainably powered transport. The company aims to make its entire chain climate-neutral.
Ambition
ZES plans to use this concept to move the entire inland navigation and short sea sector toward emission-free sailing. The first loading point will be along the Zoeterwoude – Alpherium – Moerdijk corridor. Next, the focus will be on setting up an Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp corridor and making a connection to Nijmegen. In the first phase the emphasis will be on converted and newly built inland container ships.
Wärtsilä and partners develop emissions-free barge concept
Zero Emission Services founded to make inland waterway shipping more sustainable
Replaceable battery containers used for fully electric propulsion
Innovative ‘pay-per-use’ financing model keeps OPEX low
The technology group Wärtsilä has joined a consortium of key partners to form Zero Emission Services B.V. (ZES), an enterprise aimed at making inland waterway shipping more sustainable. The other founders of ZES are ING Bank, energy and technical service provider Engie, and the Port of Rotterdam Authority. The concept is supported by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
Within the Netherlands transport sector, inland navigation accounts for 5 percent of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. By switching from diesel fuelled propulsion to fully electrically powered transport, an important step can be taken towards realising the Paris Climate Agreement goals.
The concept is based on the use of replaceable battery containers, to be known as ‘ZESPacks’. These will be charged using energy from renewable sources. A network of open access charging points will be set up for exchanging depleted battery containers for ready-charged replacements, thereby keeping waiting time to a minimum. The ZESPacks are designed for multiple applications, enabling them to be utilised for temporary onshore use, such as stabilising the local electricity grid or meeting short-term demand for electrical power.
“This innovative concept aligns completely with Wärtsilä’s commitment to lessening the environmental impact of shipping. Our deep in-house know-how in maritime battery systems, shore power connections and remote connections, plus our extensive experience in serving inland waterway applications, were all key reasons for Wärtsilä to join this project and it is something we are proud to be a part of,” says Tamara de Gruyter, President, Marine Systems & Executive VP, Wärtsilä.
The system is future-proof since it is independent of the energy provider. Initially batteries will be employed but should, for example, hydrogen become a viable alternative at some point, containers equipped with hydrogen technology could supply power in the same way.
To make it easier for barge operators to sign-on to the concept, a ‘pay-per-use’ financing model has been developed. In this way, ZES charges only for the cost of consumed renewable energy plus a rental fee for the battery container, so the skipper’s operating costs remain competitive. However, vessels must be equipped with an electric propulsion line.
The project will initially be employed along the Zoeterwoude – Alpherium – Moerdijk corridor. Following this, it will be expanded to include the Amsterdam – Rotterdam – Antwerp corridor, making a connection to Nijmegen. The emphasis during the initial stage will be on converted and newly-built container carriers.
The HEINEKEN beer company has entered into an agreement with ZES to utilise the service for transporting beer from its brewery in Zoeterwoude to Moerdijk, thus becoming the first end customer for the enterprise.