Battery energy storage systems are becoming one of the biggest growth markets in project logistics – and the volumes heading towards the industry are staggering.

In this episode of Project Cargo Professionals, Luke King sits down with Christian Ohlrich, Head of Global Logistics at Fluence, to explore what is driving the global BESS boom, why the physical logistics requirement is growing even faster than industry revenues, and whether existing shipping and heavy-haul capacity can keep up.

Christian explains why BESS logistics is less about moving one exceptional piece of cargo and more about delivering hundreds of heavy units to a precise, production-line schedule. With data centres being developed at extraordinary speed, a delayed battery delivery can prevent a facility from opening – potentially costing tens of millions of dollars.

We discuss:

• Why data centres are accelerating global demand for battery storage

• How falling battery prices translate into even faster growth in physical cargo volumes

• The dangerous-goods, vessel-capacity and on-deck stowage challenges surrounding BESS

• Why Fluence is moving towards more modular product designs

• How logistics earned a seat at the table during product development

• Why Christian is “buying a schedule and a solution” – not simply freight

• What freight forwarders must offer beyond a competitive price

• The engineering ideas that can materially improve project execution

• Why AI cannot replace trust, experience and strong supplier relationships

• The trailers, trucks and specialist capacity the industry will need as projects become larger

Christian also explains what logistics providers need to do if they want to enter the BESS market — from developing first-class dangerous-goods compliance to securing sufficient heavy-haul capacity.

This episode forms part of Voices of Breakbulk Americas, celebrating the people, projects and partnerships shaping the project cargo and breakbulk industry.

🎥 Recorded online from Hamburg, Germany and Atlanta, USA

👉 Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianohlrich/

Hosted by Luke King and produced by Prospect Communications, a specialist PR consultancy for the project cargo sector. For all business enquires relating to the podcast, email Luke@prospectcomms.co.uk and visit https://www.projectcargopros.com/

About Breakbulk

Breakbulk organises the world’s largest events for project cargo and breakbulk logistics, bringing together cargo owners, EPCs, carriers, forwarders and ports from across the global supply chain. With flagship events held annually in Dubai, Rotterdam, Houston and Singapore, Breakbulk serves as a key meeting point for networking, deal-making and industry insight.

👉 Visit https://breakbulk.com to find out more about upcoming events and registration.

About Our Series Sponsor: Rhenus Project Logistics Global

Rhenus delivers turnkey solutions for complex industrial and infrastructure projects worldwide, combining in-house engineering with multi-modal transport and its own asset base.

👉 Visit https://www.rhenus.group/uk/en/project-logistics/