Rhine-Alpine News

01.10.2021

Rotterdam: “Wattlab” generates electricity on inland vessels

Stackable hatches with ultra-thin solar panels. ©Port of Rotterdam

Stackable hatches with ultra-thin solar panels. ©Port of Rotterdam

In the Rotterdam port, inland shipping vessels are sailing with ultra-thin but robust solar panels on the hatches. This is how the Rotterdam start-up Wattlab is making inland shipping sustainable. Bo Salet, co-founder of Wattlab: “With the energy transition, we have to make smart use of the space that is available. We are developing new applications for solar energy and generating energy where it is needed.”

On an annual basis, one hatch generates an average of 2900 kilowatt hours, which is equal to the consumption by an average Dutch household. Bo: « A ship with a length of 110 metres has 22 hatches.” Read the whole story here (external link).

From Basel to Duisburg: RheinPorts Information System (RPIS)

Port of Switzerland and Ports de Mulhouse-Rhin (CCI Grand Est), as shareholders of RheinPorts GmbH (RheinPorts), sign an agreement in principle on a partnership with Duisburger Hafen AG (duisport). In the process, duisport will expand its shareholder base and also invest in RheinPorts. The necessary committee approvals have already been obtained and partnership agreements will be signed shortly. The central objective of the cooperation is to efficiently develop the “RheinPorts Information System” operated by RheinPorts.

RheinPorts Information System (RPIS) is the first comprehensive port communication system (traffic management platform) in the hinterland of Europe. Today, it covers the handling of container ships at numerous inland ports on the Upper Rhine. In simple terms, the system exchanges necessary information between all relevant stakeholders in international supply chains in order to support the physical transport of goods. The system was developed with support from the EU’s Interreg program. Find the details here (external link).

40 years of TGV

The original TGV soon became a symbol for high-speed rail service. ©SNCF

The era of European high-speed rail services started 40 years ago with a new line between Paris and Lyon, operated by innovative “TGV” trains. The network expanded across France, and today many services even operate on international links. While other nations built similar networks, the TGV remained iconic. Along the Rhine-Alpine corridor, new generations of TGV today connect many of the larger cities with Paris and other destinations in France. Read the anniversary report here (external link).

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