Freight News, Inland waterway, Sea

Battery boxes for barges

[ September 7, 2021   //   Chris ]

Technology group Wärtsilä has developed a mobile battery container for inland waterway vessels. The first three units, for Netherlands-based ZES (Zero Emission Services) BV, were delivered in June 2021. The battery containers have been installed on a 104teu inland waterway container vessel, which has been modified to allow two units to be mounted onboard.  The Alphenaar is operating between Zoeterwoude, Alpherium and Moerdijk corridor in the Netherlands, transporting beer for Heineken. The system enables the vessel to operate on full electric power alone. When discharged, the containers can be exchanged and charged onshore using renewable sources, using a network of open access charging points where depleted battery containers can be exchanged for fully charged replacements.