In northern Rotterdam, BESIX participates to the realization of 11 km of new motorway between the A16 and A13, that includes a 100% energy-neutral semi-underground tunnel, several interchanges and viaducts. Sustainable, innovative and a perfect fit into the environment, the motorway will improve access to the Rotterdam region by the end of 2025, when the motorway will open to traffic.
From the moment the project was launched, BESIX has set the bar high to make the project as sustainable as possible. Supported by its Client Rijkswaterstaat (RWS), the Dutch Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management, BESIX has recently tested a 100% electric zero-emission telescopic crawler crane on the construction site. Testing was done during six consecutive days, in actual construction conditions, and for the variety of the crane’s main functions and moves (lifting, travelling, slewing). Batteries were fully recharged overnight, and a 10-hour average battery autonomy was demonstrated. This led to the decision by BESIX to invest in this top-notch equipment, the Sennebogen 653E.
Van den Heuvel Handel en Techniek bv, the Dutch dealer of the Bavaria-based construction machinery manufacturer Sennebogen, has converted the originally diesel-driven machine into a completely electricity-driven machine including an integrated battery system. Its performance is identical compared to a diesel-driven machine with the additional advantage that the steering is improved due to the high torque of the electric motor. Classical recharging infrastructure for electrical vehicles is compatible with the batteries of this new crawler crane.
The crane has a battery capacity of 210 kWh, a load capacity of up to 50 tonnes and a reach of up to 43 meters. Next to its zero CO2 emission, this mastodont is also silent, very mobile on difficult ground thanks to its tracks, offers a 360° rotation capability and all kinds of load possibilities. Despite its size, the flexible telescopic crane is impressively easy to transport thanks to its telescoping undercarriage and simple self-assembly system.
This new zero emission equipment in BESIX’s fleet demonstrates BESIX’s objective to reduce CO2 emissions on its sites and to participate to the energy transition through a gradual electrification of its fleet. BESIX in Europe and several Belgian subsidiaries have been rewarded last August with the certification at level 5 of the CO2 Performance Ladder for its overall commitment to CO2 emission reduction. It was already the case in The Netherlands since a couple of years.
Sjoerd Gijezen, Sustainability Manager at BESIX Netherlands: “Our Client Rijkswaterstaat has a high ambition to reduce emissions to reach the goal of zero emission construction sites in 2030. Therefore they supported the project to run a pilot with zero emission equipment, and make this development possible. It is encouraging us to further invest in making our fleet more sustainable. Gradually replacing thermic equipment by electric one in our fleet will seriously decrease our consumption of fossil fuel and our carbon emissions.”
This totally innovative electric telescopic crawler crane has been presented in world premiere and handed over at the world's leading construction machinery trade fair ‘Bauma’ in Munich, Germany, at the end of October.
The A16 highway project presents many other aspects of sustainability, which are detailed here. More information on BESIX’s performance on the CO2 Performance Ladder can be found here.