30 new charging points for electric boats in Arendal
This season, boaters in the southern Norwegian coastal town will find a completely different charging infrastructure for electric boats than last year. As part of go:LEIF's coastal charging point initiative, several charging posts are now ready for use at municipal piers in Arendal.
Someone has to go first
Climate and environment advisor Ragnhild Hammer from Arendal municipality is a key figure in the joint Nordic project go:LEIF. With support from the EU's Interreg program, they are working to establish charging stations for electric boats along the coast from Gothenburg, via the Oslofjord and down to Sørlandet. Hammer is pleased to see that charging facilities for electric boats in Arendal are constantly improving.
- The municipality of Arendal and the Port of Arendal were early adopters, installing a floating fast charger for electric boats in the inner harbor already three years ago, and we want to be a pioneer municipality in the transition to zero emissions at sea. The 30 new charging points are the next step in this," she says.
"We want to be a pioneer municipality in the transition to zero emissions at sea. The 30 new charging points are the next step in this", says Ragnhild Hammer, Climate and Environment Advisor in Arendal Municipality.
Hammer says that there are plans to set up a fast charger at the Tyholmen ferry dock in central Arendal, but that this depends on a decision to introduce electric ferry services.
Easy installation of marine charging
The electricity company Nedig has been responsible for installing the charging points.
The head of department at Nedig, Andreas Lundvall, says that they did not encounter any particular challenges during the installation:
- It has been easy to set up the chargers to serve both visitors and those with permanent moorings. We have connected it to a 63 amp system that supplies the entire dock, and boaters can charge with an output of 22 kW. For many, this means that charging time can be halved compared to before," he says.
When more fast charging is to be established in the future, transformers may need to be upgraded in some cases, while battery banks may be a solution in other locations to ensure sufficient capacity.
Lundvall emphasizes that Nedig strives to be at the forefront of renewable energy infrastructure development, which also includes boating.
Andreas Lundvall, Head of Department at Nedig, wants to contribute to environmentally friendly boating.
- We are focusing on solar energy, battery storage and accessible charging. It's a classic 'chicken or the egg' problem, and we want to contribute to a more environmentally friendly boating culture by making it easier for people to choose electric power," he says.
Strict security requirements
The chargers are fitted with surge protection and earth leakage switches in accordance with current requirements. The socket is de-energized when it is not communicating with a boat or car, which means that the cable does not conduct current when it is not connected. The solution is significantly safer than the electrical outlets previously found in ports, on piers and in marinas.
A revision of the Norwegian Electrical Safety Regulations (NEK) may tighten safety requirements, which is why both Ragnhild Hammer and Andreas Lundvall warn ports and docks in Norway against choosing "cheap solutions".
- Our clear advice to ports, marinas and docks is to choose solutions that are flexible and can handle technological developments in the coming years. The type 2 cable has become standard, but charging systems should be adapted for future upgrades to higher power levels and have a safety that corresponds to the next revised requirements from NEK, they conclude.
The facts
- 30 new charging points have been installed at municipal piers in Arendal. Some of them are positioned so that they can be used by both cars and boats.
- The electrical company Nedig installed the chargers, which are of the Zaptec Pro brand.
- Power up to 22 kW can be drawn from several of the chargers, while some have lower power.
- Type 2 chargers are used, the same standard as for home charging of electric cars.
- The project is funded by the EU Interreg project go:LEIF and is part of a larger investment in charging infrastructure along the coast from Gothenburg, via the Oslofjord and down to the Sørland coast.
