Icelandic Eimskip Operates their Konecranes Gottwald Mobile Harbor Cranes on 100% Renewable Energy

Icelandic global-logistics group Eimskip has been using Konecranes Gottwald Mobile Harbor Cranes at its terminals for almost three decades, adding another one in mid 2024. The cranes run mainly on electricity from the ports’ own grids, demonstrating how investments in electric equipment pay off – both for the environment and for terminal operators.

Photograph courtesy of Eimskip

Founded in Iceland some 110 years ago, today Eimskip is a global player in maritime logistics. With more than 1,700 employees in 20 countries on four continents, the company offers liner services, warehousing, trucking and distribution, global forwarding and terminal operations. Its main terminals are at Sundahöfn in Reykjavik, the town of Reyðarfjörður, and in the Faroe Islands. The company also operates smaller terminals around Iceland.

The latest Konecranes Gottwald Mobile Harbor crane, named Bára, arrived in July and was installed in Eimskip’s Sundahöfn harbor area in Reykjavik.

Eimskip’s partnership with Konecranes dates back to 1996. Since then, a total of eleven Konecranes Gottwald Mobile Harbor Cranes have been delivered to the Icelandic company. A key argument for the long-term collaboration is the Konecranes electric drive concept.

“The Konecranes equipment can be fully supplied by electricity from the terminal’s own grid. This supports the sustainability approach we are taking in Iceland and the Faroe Islands. Eimskip’s first Konecranes Gottwald mobile harbor crane was a Generation 4 crane. In the summer of 2024 we put our second Generation 6 crane – an ESP.8 – into operation too. We have grown our fleet across three generations of Konecranes,” explains Aðalsteinsson.

Iceland is a world leader in renewable energy, with 100% of the electricity in its grid produced from renewable resources. Approximately 85% of the total primary energy supply in the country is derived from domestic renewable energy sources. Of this, 75% comes from hydropower and 24% from geothermal power.

Iceland’s favorable renewable energy supplies benefit the environment in the long run, while also creating a positive economic impact for terminal operators and their customers.

“The high availability of renewable sources in Iceland makes it possible to offer electricity at very favorable prices. The bottom line is that we can operate our cranes with 100% renewable energy in a cost friendly manner. With the help of the mobile harbor cranes, eco-efficiency can be realized for the benefit of our customers and the environment,” explains Aðalsteinsson.

Against this background, Konecranes mobile harbor cranes are a key part of Eimskip’s corporate sustainability strategy. One of the company’s goals is to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2040, along with gradually reducing overall energy consumption and increasing the share of electricity in the company’s energy mix. Using electricity from the port’s grid also reduces total cost of ownership. Aðalsteinsson explains this dual benefit: “We have huge potential to operate exhaust free in all our locations – both on land and at sea. Eimskip also makes electricity from the port’s grid available to docking ships for on-board supply. The use of electricity reduces our operating costs too.”

Video

Source