Tesla has shown the way with electric cars. Society is calling for more solutions reducing emissions of nitrogen and CO2. Commercial transport and commercial shipping are experimenting with electric solutions. Maintenance Dredging traditionally uses diesel engines . How nice would it be if this industry could also take a step in the electric future? The Langeraarse Plassen have the Dutch first!. Over the next two years, 375,000 m3 of dredged material will be processed using exclusively green electricity driven dredgers.
CO2-free dredging
Especially for the work on the Langeraarse Plassen, dredging company JP schilder asked OrangePit to develop and construct an electric cutter suction dredger. In addition to the optimization of the cutterdredger, the revolution in this project is in the powertrain of the machine and equipment. The dredger draws the power from the electricity network from the shore. With special cables, the current is distributed over two floating transformer stations. Safety and reliability have received extra attention in the prestige project, which should show that nitrogen-emission-free excavation with an electric cutter suction dredger is possible. The duration of the two-year project is also a good proof of the stability of such an approach. The huge reduction in emissions speaks for itself, but even more remarkable is the limitation in decibels. Those who are used to traditional dredging do not believe their ears when one sees (and hears) this equipment at work.
The Rijnland region manages the Langeraarse Plassen and has, among other things, the task of monitoring the quality of the water. When outsourcing to JP Schilder, the environmental requirements were of paramount importance. The power that the electric cutter suction dredger extracts from the electricity grid is also green electricity. Extra environmentally conscious. A large part of the dredged sludge is disposed of. However, the project also provides for the construction of sludge depot under water. As a result, dredge from the entire lake will be led to this depot, resulting in a better view and also chemical water quality. All this has a positive effect on aquatic plants and fish stocks.
From shore to cutter
OrangePit has taken on the design, engineering, construction and certification of this first fully electric maintenance dredging equipment in Dutch waters on behalf of JP Schilder. The construction of the ship is based on an existing design. Renovation of the hul and entire adjustment of power transmission from the shore to the floating transformer stations and the all-electric powertrain. It is a true innovation and first project of its kind in the Netherlands. OrangePit has taken care of the engineering, SI inspection and overall conversion. The renovation and conversion has resulted in a new looking ship with various new components such as a modern comfortable wheelhouse. Various technical challenges have been addressed and solved. The lead time took more time than had been estimated in advance, but that is not exceptional for projects with such a high innovation and new character. The final client Rijnland has a unique project that meets various high environmental requirements and wishes. OrangePit has completed the entire installation including commissioning and documentation in mid-2021. During the dredging work, the benefits are immediately visible to specialists but also for the general public.
