In this newsletter we present you the results of various BENEFIC implementation projects in 2022. In the meantime, a number of projects are still ongoing after further delays in the aftermath of the pandemic and as a result of the situation in Ukraine and the worldwide effects on energy prices and hardware deliveries. These projects will continue in 2023, the final year of BENEFIC.
BENEFIC is an innovative project both in terms of cross-border cooperation and the broad range of alternative fuels technologies involved. In three open calls for proposals between 2018 and 2021, in total 44 infrastructure projects were selected in partner regions Flanders, Brussels Capital Region and the Netherlands, for the installation of normal, fast and ultrafast charging infrastructure, hydrogen, shore power installations for inland navigation and (L-)CNG infrastructure on or alongside the TEN-T core network. BENEFIC is co-financed by the Connecting European Facility (CEF) program of the European Union.
Fast charging at Gabriëls
Gabriëls, a fuel supplier with over 180 fuel stations in Belgium, in 2022 deployed fast charging infrastructure on two locations in Kortrijk and Merelbeke alongside the TEN-T core network. In addition, they are working on ultra fast charging stations on 5 more locations in Flanders. Both projects were selected for co-financing in the third BENEFIC call.
The main challenges during implementation were the necessary electricity grid upgrade - which was only granted partially due to limited capacity - and the increasing delivery times for hardware components such as the charging units.
According to Gabriëls, ‘the BENEFIC support was key for the project to become reality, not only the financial stimulus but also guidance during implementation. In addition, the awarded co-financing helped to smoothen and fasten internal decision-making processes during implementation. Finally, the BENEFIC team was very accessible and provided the necessary information to properly finish the project’.
Shore power for inland navigation in Wijnegem
The rivers and canals in Flanders are situated in the middle of the biggest European economical routes and are used intensely for inland navigation by the Flemish Waterway NV. The Albert canal is the most important waterway and is part of the TEN-T core network in Europe. In order to limit the local impact (noise and air quality), the Flemish Waterway NV is developing shore power installations alongside the inland waterways. With BENEFIC co-financing, they installed 10 shore power installations with 27 sockets in the inland port of Wijnegem.
The implementation of the project was seriously impacted by the pandemic, which resulted in worldwide delivery problems for necessary hardware, especially in a niche market such as shore power installations. In addition, the floods in the Walloon Region in July 2021 caused serious damage by one of the subcontractors who was supposed to deliver hardware parts in just a few days. After an extension, the project finally was fully implemented in the summer of 2022.
During implementation, the Flemish Waterway was in close contact with the BENEFIC team to discuss the status and further steps. According to them, ‘the BENEFIC co-financing helped to overcome the challenges and contributed to the realization of the installations within a reasonable time’.
Fuel station of the future in Amsterdam
OrangeGas opened a so-called ‘fuel station of the future’ on the TEN-T core network in urban node Amsterdam, offering a wide range of alternative fuels for end-users. With the support of BENEFIC, OrangeGas was able to realize a hydrogen refuelling station. As local governments were not yet familiar with hydrogen technology and the environmental aspects for the realization, it took a long time to receive the necessary permits for the project, which caused delays during implementation. However, OrangeGas is very satisfied with the final result of this unique project thanks to the BENEFIC support. According to OrangeGas, ‘the communication from the BENEFIC team was always clear and helpful, they moreover contributed ideas to help us overcome the challenges during implementation’.
Ultra fast charging hub in the Netherlands
In another BENEFIC project, OrangeGas realized an ultra fast charging hub close to the Airport of Schiphol along the TEN-T core network. The hub consists of 3 ultra fast chargers of 150kW and 7 fast chargers of 60kW each. The biggest challenge during implementation was finding the right location with the necessary facilities. In particular for the charging hub, the grid connection was the biggest challenge. Due to grid capacity limitations, OrangeGas had to change the original plan to install only ultra fast chargers and instead deployed a combination of fast and ultra fast chargers. Altogether, OrangeGas is ‘very happy with the result, the BENEFIC support and the positive feedback from the surroundings, as the charging hub serves both zero-emission mobility in the urban node of Amsterdam and around the Airport of Schiphol, one of the busiest highways in the Netherlands.’
Zero-emission buses in Antwerp
The Flemish public bus operator De Lijn started a few years ago with pilot projects for 13 e-buses in Antwerp, Leuven and Ghent. With the support of BENEFIC, they set up a project for the deployment of charging infrastructure in urban node Antwerp to enable the electrification of busline 17 operated in the city center. In total, 3 pantograph chargers of 300kW each were installed at the University Hospital of Antwerp in Edegem, complemented with 7 overnight chargers at the bus depot in Zurenborg. The original plan for the high-power pantograph chargers had to be changed during the implementation because of issues with authorization at the proposed public domain location. As a result the final charging infrastructure was deployed at private domain of the university hospital of Antwerp. According to De Lijn, ‘this project with the support of BENEFIC was a useful learning process for future electrification of the public bus fleet and corresponding charging infrastructure. The cooperation with the BENEFIC team was very fluent thanks to the direct communication and quick responses to all our questions’.
