(Deurne / Netherlands) – The Dutch provider of electric buses and battery systems Ebusco BV will supply the Dutch company Oechies BV, which specializes in the electrification of inland waterway vessels, with maritime battery packs for a year. According to the information, the contract initially includes 36 packages and battery management systems (BMS) with a total capacity of 1.089 kilowatt hours. This can be used to replace a large diesel generator. The technology is to be used in the hydrogen-powered inland waterway vessel “Antonie 1”.
The Dutch shipbuilder Concordia Damen will build the “WEVA” (waterstof-electric vrachtschip) on behalf of Lenten Shipping. It has a length of 135 meters. With a carrying capacity of 3.700 tonnes, once completed it will be used for salt transport by Nobian Industrial Chemicals BV between Delfzijl and the port of Rotterdam.
“The completion of the first newly built hydrogen-powered barge is an important step in making the sector more sustainable,” says Johan van der Sluis, director at Oechies Elektrotechniek. The order is in line with the recent agreement between the Council and the European Parliament to reduce the carbon footprint of the maritime industry. According to Ebusco managing director Peter Bijvelds, the company has “gained extensive experience in the application of batteries for large energy consumers” over the last ten years.
Ebusco has a stake in ZES
In March 2022, Ebusco took over 40 percent of the shares in Zero Emission Service BV (ZES), which was founded in 2020. ZES develops concepts for emission-free inland shipping and supplies, among other things, batteries charged with renewable electricity in 20-foot containers (“ZESpacks”), charging stations, technical support and a pay-per-use concept for ship owners.
Since September 2021, the “Alphenaar”, an inland waterway vessel with replaceable energy containers, has been sailing for the Heiniken brewery. © Zero Emission Service BV
The Ebusco shares come from the energy company Engie, a ZES founding shareholder. Other founding members include ING Bank, technology company Wärtsilä and the Port of Rotterdam Authority. The companies received support from the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
In September 2021, ZES put the “Alphenaar” into operation, which the company believes is “the first Dutch inland waterway vessel to use replaceable energy containers for propulsion.” The “Alphenaar” runs between Alphen aan den Rijn and Moerdijk for the Heineken brewery. ZES plans 30 emission-free shipping routes by 2030.
Photos
Oechies specializes in electric drives for both newly built and converted inland vessels. The systems now ordered from Ebusco will in future power the hydrogen-powered inland waterway vessel “Antonie 1”. © Ebusco BV
