QTerminals Kramer Begins ZESpack Charging Station Construction at Maasvlakte

QTerminals Kramer Rotterdam has commenced construction of a dedicated charging station for ZESpack battery containers at its RCT depot on the Maasvlakte. The facility marks a critical expansion of the Zero Emission Services (ZES) network, providing the infrastructure necessary to link the Netherlands’ deep-sea terminals with zero-emission inland waterway routes.

The station will feature a 2 MW capacity across two charging bays, allowing for the simultaneous charging of two ZESpacks. Each interchangeable battery container provides 2.6 MWh of usable energy, which ZES indicates is sufficient for an inland vessel to operate electrically for up to eight hours or cover a distance of 50 to 100 kilometers.

Operational Integration

By situating the charging station within the RCT depot, the project integrates energy bunkering directly into existing terminal workflows. The use of reachstackers to transport battery containers between the charging station and the quay highlights a shift toward treating energy as a modular cargo unit rather than a traditional liquid fuel. This operational model reduces the requirement for dedicated bunkering berths and leverages existing container-handling equipment to facilitate vessel turnaround.

This development represents the sixth charging location for ZES in the Netherlands, joining existing sites in Alphen aan den Rijn, Alblasserdam, Den Bosch, Moerdijk, and Waalhaven. The strategic placement at Maasvlakte addresses a significant geographical gap, enabling fully electric inland transits to and from Rotterdam’s most distant seaward terminals.

Technical preparations and cable installations are currently underway following the granting of the necessary permits. The facility also includes space for the temporary storage of a third battery container to ensure a continuous supply of charged units for arriving vessels.

The project is a notable infrastructure development for QTerminals Kramer Rotterdam following its acquisition by Qatar-based QTerminals in 2023. The ZESpacks are developed and supplied by Ebusco, a Dutch electric transport manufacturer and ZES shareholder, specifically for the requirements of the inland shipping sector.

Source: World Cargo News