HGV charging park – Right in the thick of it, not just on the sidelines: Faber E-Tec GmbH. We were there for the official opening, because the technical heart of the facility's reliable power supply – a high-performance 1600 kVA transformer substation – comes from us.
Table of Contents
Prominent on-site opening: The Faber E-Tec team in Kiel
The importance of this pioneering project was demonstrated by the high-calibre guest list. Among those attending the ceremonial inauguration at the Ostuferhafen were Schleswig-Holstein's state ministers Claus Ruhe Madsen (Economics) and Tobias Goldschmidt (Environment and Climate Protection), port managing director Dr Dirk Claus, and high-ranking representatives from ENGIE and the National Centre for Charging Infrastructure.
Our team from Faber E-Tec was also on site to present our transformer substation in live operation. In many engaging discussions with representatives from politics and logistics, we were able to demonstrate the enormous technical challenges involved in powering heavy-duty charging infrastructure and how we have solved them.
Our role: 1600 kVA capacity for the charging infrastructure
To enable electric trucks to be charged simultaneously at high power across all eight charging points, an absolutely fail-safe and powerful power distribution system is required. This is precisely where our transformer substation comes into play.
With an output of 1,600 kVA, our specially designed system connects the park's charging infrastructure to the public medium-voltage grid, transforming the electricity to the required low voltage. It reliably provides the necessary electrical power, absorbs peak loads and guarantees the smooth 24/7 operation of the rapid-charging stations in the demanding maritime environment of the seaport.
Our services for this project at a glance:
- Planning and design of the transformer substation
- Manufacture, delivery and on-site installation of the compact substation
- Installation of the medium-voltage switchgear and low-voltage distribution board
- Integration of the 1,600 kVA transformer
„We are pleased to provide a crucial part of the energy infrastructure for this forward-looking project with our transformer substation.“
Sales - Your dedicated contact at Faber E-Tec GmbH
The facts
The pioneer project at the Ostuferhafen at a glance
With around 180,000 truck and trailer movements per year, the Port of Kiel a bottleneck in European freight transport. The new charging park now enables haulage companies to use waiting times in front of the ferry efficiently as charging and rest time.
- Standort: Ostuferhafen, PORT OF KIEL
- Project partner: ENGIE Vianeo and PORT OF KIEL
- Infrastructure8 public CCS charging points
- charging capacityMaximum 400 kW per charging point
- Transformer power1600 kVAFaber E-Tec GmbH)
- AccessibilityOpen 24/7 round the clock
- Logistics advantageCharging is possible without uncoupling the trailer (drive-through design)
- EnergySupply of 100 % green electricity (according to the operator)
- Outlook4 additional charging points at the Norwegenkai are already being planned
Wide media coverage and detailed reports
The opening of the pioneering project at the Ostuferhafen met with great interest among experts. Trade media such as the VerkehrsRundschau as well as the official channels of ENGIE Vianeo and the PORT OF KIEL reported in detail on the new electric HGV hub and its importance for trans-European logistics routes.
The specialist editorial team of electrive monitored the project in Kiel and in a detailed 15-minute report the new 400 kW charging points as well as the technical challenges of maritime charging infrastructure have been excellently prepared.
The technical challenge: safely mastering megawatt outputs
When heavy commercial vehicles charge simultaneously at eight charging points with up to 400 kilowatts, enormous load spikes in the megawatt range occur in the local power grid. Standard solutions quickly reach their limits here. The biggest challenge when planning the charging infrastructure at the Ostuferhafen was therefore to guarantee an uninterrupted and stable energy supply that does not overload the upstream grid. With our powerful 1,600 kVA compact substation, we have developed a customised solution that reliably absorbs precisely these peak loads and continuously supplies ENGIE Vianeo's high-power charging stations with the exact low voltage required – even at maximum capacity during 24/7 port operations.
Compact transformer substations delivery time from 18 weeks
Green logistics: 100 % green electricity for the Baltic Sea route
The Port of Kiel is a central hub for freight traffic to Scandinavia and the Baltic region. With around 180,000 lorry and trailer movements annually, this location offers a massive lever for reducing CO2 emissions in the supply chain. According to the operators, the new charging park is powered entirely by electricity from renewable sources. By providing the critical grid infrastructure for this facility, we at Faber E-Tec are making a direct contribution to the decarbonisation of maritime logistics. Every kilowatt-hour of green electricity that flows through our transformer substation replaces fossil diesel on Europe's roads and ferries.
Are you planning your own charging infrastructure project?
The successful operation of rapid charging hubs for cars or heavy commercial vehicles depends entirely on the grid connection and power distribution. Whether for haulage companies, truck stops or municipal operations: Faber E-Tec GmbH is your experienced partner for the design, manufacture and commissioning of high-performance transformer substations. We analyse your power requirements and deliver turnkey stations that connect your charging infrastructure securely and sustainably to the medium-voltage grid.
Securing charging infrastructure?
High-performance infrastructure
The opening of the new electric HGV charging park at Kiel's Ostuferhafen marks a decisive step towards the decarbonisation of European heavy-duty transport. This pioneering project by ENGIE Vianeo and the PORT OF KIEL impressively demonstrates that the electrification of key freight routes to Scandinavia is already a reality. However, high-tech charging points are only the visible tip of the solution: the real technical challenge lies in the reliable provision of enormous quantities of electricity in the megawatt range.
With the tailor-made 1600 kVA transformer substation, Faber E-Tec GmbH has proven that we reliably master this exact critical interface between high-performance charging infrastructure and the public power grid. For us, the project in Kiel is not only a first-class reference for fail-safe 24/7 operation, but also underlines our ambition to actively help shape the energy transition in logistics as a reliable technology partner. When demands on charging capacity increase, we ensure the indispensable grid stability – today at the seaport and tomorrow in future charging projects.
Sources & References
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the HGV charging park in Kiel
How quickly can electric lorries charge at the East Shore Haven?
The eight CCS charging points each deliver a maximum output of up to 400 kilowatts. This enables the rapid intermediate charging of large battery capacities during the waiting times for the ferries.
What is the function of the Faber E-Tec transformer substation?
Can trucks with trailers load at the Port of Kiel?
Yes, the layout of the charging park at Ostuferhafen is designed in such a way that articulated lorries and trucks with trailers can charge conveniently without having to uncouple them beforehand. This saves crucial time prior to ferry check-in.
Is the charging park already future-proof?
Yes, alongside the existing eight charging points at the Ostuferhafen, the Port of Kiel is planning a second expansion phase at the Norwegenkai with four additional connections. The power and transformer technology has been designed for scalability and continuous load from the very beginning.
