Parking tower UZ Gent

Three heavy tower cranes, one limited connection, zero emissions.

The challenge

For the construction of the new parking tower on the UZ Gent campus, Wyckaert needed a reliable, quiet and emission-free energy supply for three large tower cranes:

- Potain MD689 M40 - 40 tons - 75 kW hoist motor → ~120 kVA peak

- 2 × WOLFF 7032.12 Clear - 12 tons - 45 kW hoist motor → ~80 kVA peak per crane

Together good for a theoretical peak demand of +280 kVA when the cranes are running simultaneously.

The available 63A connection (≈ 43 kVA continuous) was at a considerable distance from the crane setups.
A conventional approach would have undesirable consequences:

- Very heavy cables → expensive, difficult to handle, hardly reusable

- Diesel generators → noise, emissions, high fuel consumption, additional maintenance

- Medium-voltage cabin → expensive, slow, infrastructure intensive

Wyckaert sought a solution that is powerful, emission-free and 100% reliable without infrastructure-heavy interventions.

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The goal

Running the three tower cranes simultaneously electrically:

- without heavy cabling

- without temporary medium-voltage cabin

- without diesel generators

and within the limited 63A grid connection

With guaranteed stability, silence and zero-emission operation

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The solution

Wyckaert, in partnership with Neargrid, chose a Boost 200 kVA site battery, an intelligent microgrid unit that relieves the grid and provides peak power when the cranes need it.

How the configuration works :

Power supply via 63A - 400 V → ± 43 kVA continuously available

During lifting and slewing peaks, the Boost delivers up to 400 kVA, more than enough to run all three tower cranes simultaneously

The battery forms a stable microgrid → no voltage drop, no shutdowns, no silent charges

No need for expensive cable bundles or additional infrastructure

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The result

The Boost configuration provides a quiet, emission-free and highly stable power supply for three heavily loaded cranes with only a light mains connection.

The project proves that a complex yard can run entirely electric:

- 0 liters of diesel

- No CO₂ and NOx emissions

- No noise in an environment where nuisance is not acceptable

- No grid reinforcement required

- No downtime risk thanks to automatic peak-shaving

- Lower total cost of operation and minimal infrastructure work

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The construction of the parking tower thus becomes a reference project in emission-free construction: powerful performance with minimal connection and maximum reliability.

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