Konecranes has signed a €100m sustainability-linked term loan facility with OP Corporate Bank.
The facility has a direct link to Konecranes’ sustainability ambitions, with the interest margin tied to two performance indicators: the CO2 reduction of Konecranes’ own operations, and the growth of Konecranes’ eco portfolio sales.
Konecranes aims to reach carbon neutral own operations and halve emissions from its value chain by 2030. The biggest impact will come from expanding the power options of its sold equipment. Konecranes’ product portfolio is largely electrified already, and the company is committed to having fully electric variants of its entire product portfolio by 2026.
In support of its carbon neutral plans, the company is now delivering 116 Konecranes Gottwald Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) with Li-Ion batteries, 20 automated charging stations, a battery management system, a safety system and TEAMS equipment control software (ECS).
Hamburger Hafen und Logistik (HHLA) will introduce 116 Li-Ion AGVs from Konecranes in a transition to a fully electric Automated Horizontal Transport System at its Container Terminal Burchardkai (CTB).
This is the argest-ever single order for Konecranes Gottwald AGVs, booked in 2022, and will support HHLA in becoming more efficient and reaching its goal of carbon neutrality by 2040. Deliveries will continue through 2025 and take HHLA’s total Konecranes AGV fleet size to more than 200 vehicles.
The Konecranes Gottwald AGVs are being used for automated container transport at the Waltershofer Hafen container hub, which spans a total quay length of 3.6km.
The delivery includes a CE TYPE Approved Interchange and Fence Control safety system connected to CTB’s quay cranes and automated stacking cranes, ensuring integrated and safe operations from shipside to landside.
“We are nearing the completion of our conversion from manual straddle carrier operations to automated, emission-free AGVs between the quay and storage blocks. Konecranes has played a pivotal role in supporting us to achieve our ambitious carbon-reduction goals. HHLA aims to be carbon neutral by 2040,” said Ingo Witte, GM, HHLA Container Terminal Burchardkai.
“The 20-year collaboration with Konecranes includes joint research and development on AGV battery technology with HHLA’s Container Terminal Altenwerder – the world’s first certified climate-neutral container terminal. With the transformation of CTB, HHLA is taking another significant step forward. This comprehensive modernization project is regarded as the largest brownfield upgrade of an operational plant in the global industry. Once fully implemented, this transformation will enable us to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 12,000 tons annually.”
Ralf Konnerth, director, Automated Horizontal Transport, Konecranes., added it began its journey with HHLA during the diesel-hydraulic era and has progressed together through various technologies, including lead-acid batteries.
“It’s rewarding to see our latest generation of AGV with Li-Ion battery technology in use at Container Terminal Burchardkai, supporting HHLA’s journey to net-zero,” added Konnerth. “Konecranes is dedicated to assisting HHLA in managing this intricate brownfield integration while maintaining port operations. Our shared goal is to smoothly implement advanced functionality at CTB.”
