In recent months, a pilot project featuring moveable battery containers with shore power was conducted at the Steinweg Beatrix Terminal at the port of Rotterdam, successfully connecting vessels from the Cargow shipping company.
This pilot builds on a previous experiment held at Parkkade in late 2019 and early 2020, but this time involved vessels with higher energy demands.
Unlike the earlier test, this pilot was carried out at an operational terminal rather than a public dock.
The battery containers, provided by Zero Emission Services (known for their battery-powered inland vessels), represent a potential new revenue model through shore power.
Market participants have tested and demonstrated their technology across both pilots, with a particular focus on integrating various components onshore and onboard, as well as optimizing the logistics for the moveable battery concept.
Furthermore, the use of shore power via moveable batteries has proven technically feasible and could serve as an alternative to standard shore power connections.
However, the cost is higher compared to traditional shore power solutions, meaning this approach may be limited to locations where grid electricity is unavailable.
In addition, the pilot received partial funding from the National Air Quality Cooperation Programme, which aims to improve air quality, particularly in urban areas. The Port of Rotterdam Authority, in coordination with the Municipality of Rotterdam, is now exploring broader applications of moveable shore power solutions.
These efforts focus on areas where flexible systems are more suitable than fixed connections or where grid congestion prevents the installation of permanent infrastructure.
