Rotterdam starts shore power trial for coasters

Photo: Port of Rotterdam

Aim of the trial, launched by the Municipality of Rotterdam and the Port of Rotterdam Authority is to supply small sea-going vessels with electricity on Parkkade in the center of the city. Trials will last around five months during which five different systems will undergo testing.

The trial uses mobile concepts instead of permanent shore-based power connections, allowing for more flexibility. Tests will include various energy sources, such as hydrogen, battery, liquefied natural gas (LNG), bio LNG and hybrid solutions.

Technical and commercial feasibility, user-friendliness and environmental benefits will be the main focus points. Necessary measurements will be taken in order to compare the systems’ noise levels and emissions with those resulting from the same vessel generating electricity using its own generators.

In principle, any sea-going vessel that berths in Parkkade can use the mobile shore power, although many of these are not equipped with a shore power connection.

The trial will cost €500k. The money largely comes from the national government via the Dutch National Collaboration Programme on Air Quality. The programme’s objective is to improve air quality, particularly in urban areas.

Systems to be tested during the coming five months come from five different solution providers. ENGIE will offer a hybrid system integrated with a motor generator running on biofuel (HVO); PON Power, along its sister companies, a hybrid container with a battery combined with a similar generator and a 20ft container equipped with solar panels; Aggreko Benelux, a LNG fueled gas engine housed in a 20ft container; Mobiele Stroom, a bio LNG fueled turbine in a similar housing; and last but not least JP-Energiesystemen, a hydrogen fuel cell generator combined with a small battery.

Following the mobile shore power trial on Parkkade, a second trial will start in 2020, focusing on innovative shore power concepts for larger sea-going vessels. €1.5m in funding is already available for the project.

Allard Castelein, CEO, Port of Rotterdam Authority, said, "We're continuing to go that step further with shore-based power. This has been compulsory for inland shipping for some ten years. Stena Line in Hoek van Holland has it and we’re going to install this for Heerema at Rozenburg. In the coming decades many more vessels will need to use shore power. But the larger the vessel, the more complicated and expensive this is. So it takes time."