VERHOEF
FROM INNOVATION TO COLLABORATION IN THE MARINE MARKETPLACE Powered by Inside Marine
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VERHOEF
I PROFILE
Verhoef was founded in 1954 and made its name with electrical installations for maritime and land-based industries. Nexus Energy is a sustainable innovation startup developing modular zero-emission solutions for maritime and on-shore applications. Edwin van den Dool, Sales Manager at Verhoef, and Lars Lamet, CCO & Co-Founder of Nexus, explained to Hannah Barnet how the two companies got together, and where they are going next.
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V
erhoef and Nexus Energy have created a product for the marine industry that is innovative, useful
and truly sustainable. “In order to make the energy transition happen, an alternative solution should not feel like an imposed change, it should
than a typical engine run on diesel. But
feel like an improvement,” Nexus CCO &
this was not something the company had
Co-Founder Lars Lamet said. “But that is
the capability to develop alone.
only the case if a product is easier, better
“When we started engineering the unit,
and more fun. And not just one of those;
we soon found that we needed electrical
all three. This is the challenge that
knowledge and experience within the
we took on with Verhoef. We created
maritime industry,” Mr Lamet explained.
a product that is better than a diesel
“Both Wouter (Guijt, CEO & Co-Founder of
engine in all three of these respects.”
Nexus) and myself are mechanical engineers, so nuts and bolts we understand,
A marine match
but electricity, at that time, a little bit less.
Nexus has developed a drivetrain
We went into our network and started
that uses electricity from hydrogen for
asking which companies would be
heavy-duty applications, such as work
a good fit, and multiple people mentioned
boats and dredging equipment. The
Verhoef; not only because of its track
power pack can be put in a work vessel
record in the industry, but also because
and generates green electricity. The result
it’s a company that works closely with
is far more efficient, (as well as cheaper),
its partners.”
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VERHOEF
I PROFILE
“By the end of 2024, Nexus and Verhoef will be able to provide units of the same dimensions with twice the power, up to a 400kW peak” A modular power pack was developed
but it is new,” he explained. “One of the
using two 60kW hydrogen fuel cell engines
things Nexus wanted to accomplish was
for both stationary and heavy-duty applica-
to make the system as compact as pos-
tions. And according to Mr Lamet, the col-
sible, to fit it into dredging equipment and
laboration with Verhoef has proved to be a
work boats; and the electricals were, of
match made in marine heaven.
course, a crucial element within that.”
“Verhoef was able to follow our guide-
On the Verhoef side, the company jumped
lines to develop an electrical system,
at the opportunity to explore innovative sus-
which was quite a challenge, because
tainable solutions, though the specification
what we are doing is not rocket science,
of the design did prove a challenge initially.
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“I got together with the engineers
“When we started, the solution was so
to sit down and try to think of a solution,”
obvious that we took around three quarters
Verhoef Sales Manager Edwin van den
of a year just to check no one else already
Dool recalled. “The challenges were
designed this system – because
placing all the components in such
it was such a no-brainer for us,” Mr Lamet
a small area, including the cabling, fuses
said. “But we discovered that this was
and so on. So first, we did a paper study
not the case. And the main reason, next to
and then we put all the materials together
the required software, was the complexities
with our guys in the workshop: and from
of the electrical system. So, this is where
this collaborative effort, we came up with
Verhoef played a crucial role by enabling us
a suitable solution.”
to develop such an efficient system.”
The Nexus and Verhoef drivetrain
Nexus and Verhoef remain confident
remains a standout product. Nothing so
that this profitable partnership will
compact, or offering the same plug-and-
continue into the long-term, and the com-
play characteristics and power density,
panies are now discussing a framework
is available on the market.
agreement for the former to perform
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VERHOEF
I PROFILE
222 Inside marine
maintenance and service activi-
solution is here, and we are open for busi-
ties for the latter. Bigger units are
ness. Not in a year or two: we are ready
also on the horizon.
to go now.”
Pioneering partnerships
A hydrogen-powered future
Nexus will be present alongside
Nexus has already received its first
Verhoef at Europort 2023
orders and, to accommodate anticipated
in Rotterdam, exhibiting the
demand, Verhoef is working on improving
innovative product.
the strength of its supply chain to produce
“By showing that we can really make this product work, Verhoef will gain visibility in
the necessary number of units in the coming years. By the end of 2024, Nexus and Verhoef
the sustainability field,” Mr van
will be able to provide units of the same
den Dool said. “And for sure, there have
dimensions with twice the power, up to
been some setbacks within the process.
a 400kW peak. “Producing to this level is
But the way to handle them is part of
not a question, but a given,” Mr Lamet said.
the solution and the success. So while
Nexus is also moving into the inland
the gain is partly about more clients
shipping market, alongside one of its
for Nexus – and also for us – it is also
shareholders, Zwijnenburg Shipyard, to
a seat at the sustainability table with
develop a pitstop retrofit operation for
the players that are really looking to
inland vessels to exchange their drive-
the future.”
train from diesel to a Nexus system.
For Mr Lamet and Nexus, a show on
“This upgrade will make improvements
the scale of Europort presents an ideal
on the hull design, allowing vessels to have
networking opportunity for potential cus-
less water depth so they can either carry
tomers and stakeholders. “I have invited
more cargo, or they can sail for longer,” Mr
lots of marine contractors to our stand so
Lamet explained. “And that’s also a project
they can talk to us – not only as a startup,
where Verhoef will be involved to work on
but also with Verhoef,” said Mr Lamet.
all the electrical systems.
“Of course, one of the intentions is to
“It is what Verhoef does perfectly,
sell our product and services. But also,
because it is just like when they went
to find ways of working together.
with our first crazy idea. They came in
“Because as soon as people see
completely blank. But within a couple
there is a business case that makes
of days, they understood the plan. And
sense, they want to be involved;
we started working together to make
it is a no-brainer. We hope to
it happen. So we know that will also
spread the word that the
happen on these subsequent projects.” n
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