Reduce the carbon impact of the mobility of people and the transport of goods
Railways, waterways and roads: in 2021, John Cockerill teams continued to develop technological solutions to reduce the carbon impact of the mobility of people and the transport of goods. Renewable energy, green hydrogen or even the digitalization and modernization of infrastructure and equipment were at the center of their projects.
White smoke for HaYrport®
In April 2021, John Cockerill and Liege Airport obtained the green light from the Walloon Government to deploy a green hydrogen production and distribution infrastructure at the Liège airport site. This 100% clean eco-mobility project will benefit from a regional grant of 6 million Euros. The production capacity will be 200 kg of hydrogen a day, produced using energy from the airport’s photovoltaic panels. This is enough to cover 20 000 kilometers a year for the airport’s fleet of logistics vehicles and shuttles traveling to and from the airport.
Prior to the commissioning in 2023, a pilot hydrogen refueling and production station will be installed and tested on the John Cockerill site in Seraing, about fifteen kilometers from the airport. The objective is to even further improve mastery of this technology.
Waterway infrastructures that are more available and intelligent
In 2021, inland waterways and river sites came one after the other for John Cockerill. Results followed: maximum availability of the waterways infrastructure. In France, over 25 million tones of freight were thus able to be transported in a year by inland waterways. This was enough to avoid three million truck journeys on the roads.
“Waterways traffic, which has increased sharply in recent years, is in enormous demand,” explains Sébastien, Head of Public Markets France. “4 500 of the 8 500 kilometers of French canals are navigable, including 2 500 intended for heavy transport. When you realize that a barge of 4 500 tons corresponds to 250 trucks, you will immediately understand the importance of waterway transport: it’s four times less polluting than road traffic. Best of all, it doesn’t emit fine particles! “
The main challenge is time
Stoppages of waterway traffic are rare and are defined well in advance. All interventions are therefore concentrated over very short periods of time: all the work has to be carried out over two or three weeks, or even just one, in order to avoid disrupting navigation as much as possible.
In 2021, the John Cockerill teams intervened throughout France, in Toulouse, Strasbourg, Marseilles, Saint-Dizier and Normandy, as well as inBelgium, to carry out the renovation and modernization of locks and dams. Their work involves skills in mechanics, boiler-making, automation and electricity, as well as in water treatment.
Towards smart locks
Innovation and technology are at the heart of these interventions. “When we replace the motorization of a lock”, continues Sébastien, “we design new systems that integrate the latest technologies in terms of security and data recording, such as torque measurements and force sensors that provide the operator with new information about its equipment.” This will create river infrastructures that are ever smarter, and therefore ever more available. And thereby considerably reduce road traffic and its CO2 emissions..
3 millions
This is the number of truck journeys avoided on the roads thanks to the interventions of John Cockerill on French waterways.
« Our waterway interventions maximize infrastructure availability. This will make waterway transport more attractive, and considerably reduce road traffic and its many nuisances. »
Sébastien Simon, Public Markets Manager in France
Panama: the metro to make the air more breathable
Following the first line of the Panama Metro, John Cockerill finalized the study, maintenance and supply of the second line in record time in 2021. “Our teams”, says Thomas, Managing Director of CIM, the French subsidiary of John Cockerill, “designed, manufactured and installed the workshop equipment needed for train maintenance, as well as the work for laying the track and the catenary.”
In 43 months, John Cockerill thereby commissioned this second line, which is 21 kilometers long and consists of 16 stations. This project is a response to a strategic urban mobility challenge: to offer 40 000 passengers an hour a green, fast and secure mobility alternative.
Africa: fostering international rail mobility
With the strength of their expertise in rail technology behind them, the Transurb teams at John Cockerill facilitate the connection of the rail lines of several African countries. This was the case in Cameroon and in Chad, which have decided to finalize the railway corridor between Douala and N’Djamena. As a catalyst for opportunities, in 2021 John Cockerill provided the two states with technical assistance in the analysis of the feasibility study of the operation.The integration of the infrastructure networks of these two countries will make it possible to offer populations common inter-modality solutions.
Elsewhere, in Algeria, John Cockerill supervised the works and commissioning of the Rocade Nord project. Equipped with the ERTMS rail traffic management system, this high-speed Trans-Maghreb network connects Morocco to Tunisia via Algiers. In 2021, the John Cockerill Transurb teams supervised the works on, and commissioning of three sections, over a total length of 390 km. Studies, planning, design, works control and monitoring: a supervision mission that ultimately leads to certification.
Towards zero-emission buses and dump trucks
John Cockerill, Metz Métropole and the UEM group formalized a partnership in October 2021 aimed at developing a hydrogen sector in Metz (France) dedicated to the eco-mobility of buses and dump trucks.The project aims to create a green hydrogen ecosystem, starting with thirteen buses by 2025, and then a gradual conversion of all buses and refuse collection vehicles by 2030.The first will hit the road in 2025 – without the slightest emission of CO2!
There is a similar objective, but a different technology in Liège (Belgium). Here, John Cockerill has been supporting the waste collection operator Renewi in the electrification of its fleet of vehicles since 2020.In September 2021, John Cockerill carried out a charging test for an electric truck via MiRIS, its green energy storage and management station.“This test was an important milestone towards Renewi’s zero-emission collection goal, as the energy that MiRIS generates and stores is 100% solar, ensuring that their trucks have completely carbon-free propulsion”, explains Antonio, Business Development & Sales Manager.
Simulation, energy-efficient training
Thirty simulators to train its operators: in 2021, SNCF Réseau opted for the portability and flexibility of the Transurb® solutions from John Cockerill.These 30 nano-simulators, supplemented by six instructor stations, a preparation station and an observation station, meet the needs of the French rail network operator whose training centers are located in different regions of France.
Thanks to this equipment, SNCF Réseau can train its operators at a lower energy cost, in conditions that are close to reality, with all the expertise of the market leader ETCS (European Train Control System) within a simple suitcase.
In Belgium, the Brussels operator STIB made its choice in 2021, guided by the same energy-efficiency argument, acquiring a compact simulator dedicated to training in the use of its new generation trams.
Augmented reality at the service of security
Safety is the top priority, at both John Cockerill and Infrabel.In 2021, the Belgian railway infrastructure operator acquired a new state-of-the-art training tool: a 3D Transurb® track simulator equipped with augmented reality.
This innovative technology makes it possible to train track maintenance personnel in safety procedures, immersing them in their daily work environment without the risks of being in the field.This immersive simulation solution proposed by John Cockerill contributes to making the Belgian railway network one of the safest in Europe.