1/3 Waalwijk councilor Frank Spierings talks about the plans for the electric inland port.
“The water you see here will become two to three times as long,” says councilor Frank Spierings as he points towards the windmills at the current port in Waalwijk. “Two container ships of 115 meters can soon be moored here behind each other. In addition, large cranes, as you know them from the ports of Tilburg and Rotterdam, that remove containers from the ships and place them back.”
In the pouring rain, councilor Spierings and project leader Harald Wouters describe the plans for a sustainable port in Waalwijk, the first electric inland port in Europe. “A port with a larger container terminal that is interesting for the entire region. This will save millions of transport kilometers on the road,” says the councilor. “It saves 1,700 tons of CO2 per year,” Wouters adds.
No train connection, so transport via water
The electric inland port is desperately needed, says the municipality. “There are wonderful companies here. Bol.com is there. And we are the largest in the field of kitchens, large tires and leasing companies,” Wouters summarizes. “We are one of the largest municipalities in the Netherlands without a train connection, so we have to use the water or the road. We want as much transport as possible to take place via water.”
A sustainable port requires many power sources. “The wind turbines that are there now are finished and are going away,” says Spierings. “It will be replaced by larger wind turbines that will generate power not only for the port, but also for the residents of Waalwijk. In addition, there are solar panels on many companies here.”
“There will also be containers containing batteries for storing electricity that can be used for electric ships. And behind the port there will also be a biomass power plant that will make a contribution. And we are lobbying for a hydrogen connection from Moerdijk to Germany,” the councilor explains. “Ships must be converted for electric propulsion and the terminal will also become fully electric,” adds Wouters.
Playing the Champions League on a small scale
“It’s super cool that you are the first in Europe,” Wouters beams. “Europe is very much looking at ports such as Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg, but that is really the Champions League. While we can show Europe on a small scale that it is possible. In this way we show other ports that they can also become completely sustainable.”
In Waalwijk they are eager. “We can’t wait, but it will take a while. Because after a shovel is dug here, it will be another year and a half before the new port is operational,” says Wouters. “We are ready to do that as quickly as possible.”
The planning depends on the nitrogen file. Everything is in the starting blocks, but there is still one objection to the plan. The From Gol to Better Foundation is involved in a legal battle with the municipality of Waalwijk. The foundation questions the nitrogen puzzle that has been created. The two parties will meet in court on Tuesday.
New exit A59
Part of the plans is the construction of a new ring road with its own exit on the A59. “Because we are electrifying this port, we are saving on all truck transport via the highway,” Wouters explains. “We offer to sail here from Rotterdam and then have the containers transshipped here. This saves us 23 million ‘truck kilometers’ per year.”
The money for this emission-free port comes from the companies themselves, and the government also contributes. The new port will cost thirty million euros. The Ministry of Infrastructure is making five million euros available to strengthen inland shipping. Another 7.5 million comes from the province.