Amsterdam Port Launches Floating Battery Service

Dutch start-up Skoon Energy and the Port of Amsterdam have launched a floating battery service to bring mobile stored power into the port and inner city of Amsterdam.

According to a release from the sea port, the battery, which is placed on a barge and powered by local, renewable energy, will help balance the electricity grid. Because it is placed on a barge, the battery can deliver electricity anyplace close to water.

Skoon operates a platform that enables mobile battery sharing to optimize the economics for battery owners and user. This concept of battery sharing facilitates all services for energy users who are in temporary need of electricity.

In April and May, the number of river cruise calls is at its peak, due to the flower field season. Current grid connections do not provide sufficient capacity to meet the vessels’ power demand. Consequently, some of them run diesel generators to generate power whilst moored. This leads to noise pollution and additional harmful emissions in the center of Amsterdam.

The floating battery is silent and supplies green energy. The battery will be charged from renewable energy sources, such as Windpark Ruigoord, solar panels from rooftops in the port area and energy from biomass by waste-to-energy company AEB.

Koen Overtoom, CEO at Port of Amsterdam said: “We have started this project with Skoon, as it is in line with our ambition of creating partnerships that will help us become a zero-emission Port. Together with Skoon and Zoev City, the floating battery will also be deployed in the city center of Amsterdam, when it is not needed to deliver power to river cruise vessels at berth.”

Peter Paul van Voorst tot Voorst, Founder of Skoon said: “The use cases for mobile batteries are endless. Think about construction or maintenance activities on quays or bridges in the canals of Amsterdam, for example. Batteries provide a clean alternative to diesel generators. Additional benefits of the floating battery include transport by an electrically powered barge to the customer. This reduces noise pollution, emissions and traffic on the already busy streets. Also, the barge will not take up any parking space. This makes it a faster, smarter and cleaner solution.”

The floating battery will be on the barge for six months. It will support river cruise vessels two weeks per month. During the other two weeks, the battery will be utilized by various projects in the city of Amsterdam, such as construction projects, film sets or events that often need temporary energy sources and traditionally rely on diesel generators.