The company's Container Cranes division will provide a hybrid green energy storage solution (ESS) to one of 18 Liebherr rubber-tyred gantries (RTGs) working for the Gdańsk-based container terminal.
The retrofit will see the addition of a Liduro ESS, along with exchanging the existing 13 L genset with a smaller 8 L one.
The Liduro LES 200 is a capacitor system designed and developed by Liebherr-Electronics and Drives, designed to capture and store energy generated during hoist lowering and braking that would otherwise be wasted.
The stored energy is then deployed during the hoisting cycle to reduce the overall demand on the genset, allowing for fuel & emission reductions.
According to the manufacturer, dual-layer capacitors can rapidly charge and discharge many times without a drop in performance, making them a suitable solution for applications requiring high power and short-duration energy storage, such as that found in container handling.
The pilot retrofit will help Baltic Hub assess the technology's viability for upgrading the remainder of the terminal's Liebherr RTG fleet.
"This will allow the RTG to operate at the same speed and productivity, whilst reducing operating costs, and delivering substantial environmental benefits, including a reduction in emissions and carbon footprint. By utilising this innovative technology, the RTG crane will have access to reliable, high-power energy during peak demand periods. The system is modular and depending on the operational requirements of the port, single or multiple units may be installed to a single RTG," Liebherr Maritime Cranes wrote in a press release.
Oran Kane, Head of the company's Department for Upgrades and Modifications, added, "Baltic Hub, like many ports and terminals worldwide are working to minimise their impact on the environment, through reducing their carbon footprint. The green energy solution that they have chosen, not only makes a significant reduction in the amount of energy consumed and the amount of emissions released, but the return on investment is clear to see, with the retrofit paying for itself in the short term. With such benefits on offer, the green energy retrofit is an easy win for our customers. The technology represents the future of energy storage in container handling, and we are proud to be at the forefront of this innovation."
Photo: Liebherr Container Cranes