Low-emission sheet piling along the Maas: the Powerhub operated by Sterk BV

Published on Thursday 30 April 2026 by DENS

At Lithoijen, Sterk works daily on the project Meanderende Maas. Among the equipment stands one striking yellow power source: the 580 kWh DENS Powerhub. Not as a pilot project, but as a fully-fledged part of the work process. Here, the foundation work is largely carried out electrically—quietly, cleanly, and with minimal emissions.

Water safety without the noise

with Boskalis, Sterk is reinforcing 26 kilometers of dike between Ravenstein and Lith. Along 17 kilometers of that stretch, steel sheet piles are being installed to stabilize the dike and prevent piping. Thanks to the electric Silent Piler and DENS’s battery technology, this is done quietly and with a drastic reduction in emissions. You can really tell the difference—both in the surrounding area and on the job site.

“I can only think of health reasons why I would choose to work with electric equipment.”
– Ed van der Horst, Site Supervisor at Sterk

Electric foundation work in multiple ways

Sterk is deploying multiple electric foundation methods at various sections of the project:
• Silent Piler, drives 1 or 2 single sheets into the ground at a time
• Electric vibratory hammer (6 tons, 240 kW continuous) for powerful and efficient compaction
• Quattro Piler drives up to 4 single sheets into the ground at a time

This ensures that emission-conscious working isn’t limited to a single machine, but is applied throughout the entire foundation process.

“Yes, you have to come along—and this really is a great solution.”
– Bjorn Boschman, Silent Piler operator / machine operator at Sterk

Watch the video!

The Powerhub as a silent engine

To power these electric machines, a reliable energy source is needed. Sterk’s Powerhub is exactly that: a mobile power plant with:
• 580 kWh capacity
• 300 kVA AC output, with an additional power source for peak moments
• 250 kW DC output, directly connected to the Silent Piler

In practice, the work runs almost entirely on battery power. Only when operational planning requires it—for example, during relocations or specific peak loads—is an additional source temporarily deployed. This happens exclusively at times when the surrounding area is not affected by it.

Building a better future together

This user story demonstrates what happens when technology, ambition, and collaboration come together. It clearly proves that electric piling is not a thing of the future, but that it works today—quietly, cleanly, and powerfully.
On the Maas, it’s not just a dike being reinforced; here, the future of emission-conscious construction is becoming a reality.