ZES (Zero Emission Services) has ordered 20 battery containers from Ebusco to enable more barges to operate electrically. The first 9 containers will be delivered by the end of 2023, while the remaining 11 containers will be delivered by 2024 at the latest. The delivery of the 11 containers may be accelerated depending on the roll-out of ZES.
Commercial tender
Following a commercial tender, ZES (Zero Emission Services) has awarded Ebusco a contract for so-called ZESpacks specifically developed for use in electric inland vessels, hybrid or otherwise, thus contributing to the European Commission's recently taken decision to reduce CO2 emissions in the maritime sector by 80 per cent by 2050.Each ZESpack can store a total of 2.9 megawatt hours of energy. After delivery of the ZESpacks, ZES will deploy the new units at both existing and newly established docking stations throughout the Netherlands. When not deployed on a ship, the containers can be used to balance the electricity grid. Balancing the supply and demand of electricity is essential to increase the resilience of the electricity grid as the share of renewable energy sources, with more variable output, increases.
Bart Hoevenaars, chief executive officer of Zero Emission Services, said: 'Over the past few years, we have gained a lot of experience with our first ZESpacks and docking station, with the purchase of these 20 ZESpacks we are now going for an accelerated scale-up of our innovative system solution for inland shipping. With Ebusco, we choose an experienced European partner with sustainable and safe lithium iron phosphate battery systems.'
By: Els Stultiens
