Quiet and emissions-free shore power for cruise vessels

For several months two cruise vessels will be moored in the Waalhaven in Nijmegen, The Netherlands, providing accommodation for refugees. The shore power connection is sufficient to meet the basic demand for power, but at certain times each day additional power is needed. By combining the energy stored in a battery box with the shore power, a silent and emissions-free solution has been achieved.

This solution was realized by Alewijnse, a major international system integrator with over 130 years of experience in maritime and industrial technology, in partnership with Bredenoord, a specialist in temporary and mobile power solutions that manages the shore power cabinets on the Waalkade for the municipality of Nijmegen. 

Alewijnse service coordinator Ronald Hendriks explains: "Initially it was estimated that the ships could run on shore power alone. The connection is 500A, but it soon became apparent that this was not enough at peak times. In the morning when people wake up and in the evening around dinner time, the combination of a kitchen operating at full speed and a lot of washing machines running is just a bit too much for shore power by itself. The ship could cope with that using the onboard generator, but that would involve it running day and night. This would not be a desirable situation for the neighborhood because of the resulting noise and odors. The municipality asked us to find an adequate solution, particularly as the ships are located in a residential area. After installing the battery box, the complaints about odors and noise were resolved."

Helping to think through the solution

Alewijnse initially approached Bredenoord to source silent generators. However, once in contact, area manager Wim Lucas suggested using the battery box instead. "My colleagues in our maritime department were already familiar with this battery solution, so we were immediately enthusiastic," says Ronald Hendriks "And because the battery box is completely silent, we solved two problems at once: the demand for occasional, additional power and the noise pollution." The installation is set up so that the ship runs continuously on shore power, but when that is not enough, the battery of the battery box is called upon. And when the shore power being used is less than 100%, the spare capacity  can be used to recharge the battery box until it is full.

Extra safety with a green set-up

To be on the safe side, there is also a 100 kVA generator on the quayside. Hendriks explains: "The ships are made largely of steel and glass, so during the summer the demand for air conditioning is likely to increase and more power be needed. But so far the generator has not had to run a single time." Should the generator be needed, it will run on HVO100 biodiesel made from reclaimed vegetable oils and animal fats , which reduces CO₂ emissions by up to 89%.