Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
The SK6000, the world’s most powerful land-based crane, has successfully completed testing for fully electric operations, marking a major milestone in sustainable heavy lifting. Mammoet’s groundbreaking innovation ensures zero-emission functionality, enabling safer, cleaner, and quieter operations—even in the most remote locations.
By leveraging this advancement, Mammoet underscores its commitment to reducing the environmental footprint of large-scale projects. Besides cutting emissions, the electric operation significantly minimizes noise, creating safer work environments and improving communication on-site. This is particularly advantageous in industries like offshore wind, oil and gas, and nuclear construction.
The SK6000 can operate directly from a medium-voltage grid, common in industrial zones. For sites lacking grid access or with unstable power, battery packs or hydrogen generators can power the crane. This flexibility allows the SK6000 to meet diverse project requirements, from bustling ports to remote energy fields.
Testing involved two 600kWh Battery Boxes provided by Bredenoord, a power solutions specialist. These were linked in series to deliver 1,200kWh—comparable to the energy output of 20 electric cars. The connection setup, completed during a single shift alongside weight reconfiguration, demonstrated minimal disruption to operations.
The battery packs, designed in standard 20ft container sizes, offer easy transport and installation. They can also recharge between lifts, taking advantage of idle periods. At sites with no power infrastructure, hydrogen generators provide a viable alternative, enabling fully zero-emission operations even under challenging conditions.
Mammoet’s Global Sustainability Advisor, Niek Bezuijen, emphasized the significance of this breakthrough:
“Thanks to this test, we can now say the SK6000 operates fully zero-emissions on-site. Electrification isn’t the future of heavy lifting—it’s the present. Innovations like this help our customers lead on safety, efficiency, sustainability, and cost.”
This advancement supports crucial sectors. Offshore wind projects can now utilize a low-noise marshalling service with zero carbon impact during the heaviest lifts. Oil and gas operations benefit from reduced emissions, while nuclear facilities gain enhanced safety through quieter crane functions during complex builds.
The initiative was co-funded by the Subsidieregeling Schoon en Emissieloos Bouwmaterieel program in the Netherlands, which backs zero-emission construction innovations. With the SK6000 fully operational, Mammoet sets a new standard for sustainable heavy lifting.
