Since 2022, DHL has been transporting packages in Berlin using a solar-powered vessel on the Spree River. Now, a second, larger ship is being added to transport shipments to and from packing stations located between Köpenick and the Osthafen near the Oberbaumbrücke.
The first ship was launched as part of a collaboration with Berlin port logistics provider BEHALA and shipping company Solarwaterworld, with the aim of testing ecologically sustainable parcel logistics on Germany’s waterways.
Following the project’s success, DHL has decided to expand it and now operates a second electrically powered solar ship on a new route along the River Spree. Sven Goerke, Head of the Berlin Parcel Branch, says that the solar ships in Berlin are a true example of sustainable logistics.
Our extensive logistics expertise, applied to waterways and combined with solar-powered DHL Packstations, demonstrates how innovative solutions can relieve road traffic in Berlin, he says in a statement.
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The route runs from Köpenick, where a lorry delivers parcel containers to the Kaisersteg landing stage, via multiple stops equipped with solar-powered DHL Packstations, such as Rummelsburger Bucht, to Osthafen near the Oberbaum Bridge.
The new, second solar-powered ship is significantly larger and can transport up to 1,500 parcels at once. It measures 19.50 metres in length and 5.10 metres in width.
By using photovoltaic panels on the ship’s roof, sufficient electricity is generated for propulsion and onboard energy needs. For periods without sunlight, energy is stored in batteries.
The solar ship is equipped with a 2 x 35-kilowatt drive system, achieving speeds of up to twelve kilometres per hour. In sunlight, its operating time is unlimited, while without sunlight, it can operate for 12 to 15 hours.
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The project is supported by the Senate Department for Mobility, Transport, Climate Action and the Environment, as well as the districts of Treptow-Köpenick, Lichtenberg, and Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg.
Ute Bonde, Senator for Mobility, Transport, Climate Action and the Environment of the State of Berlin, said: Our waterways are not only iconic features of the cityscape but also a genuine transport space with significant potential for freight traffic.
DHL already plans to install solar-powered DHL Packstations at additional stops along the solar ship’s route. The approval process for further locations is underway.
The second DHL solar ship is part of the A-Swarm II project, in which partners such as the Technical University of Berlin are researching autonomous electric shipping in metropolitan regions—supported by funding from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.