The Challenge: Zero-Emission Sites Are No Longer Optional
For drilling companies across Europe, the rules have changed. Government mandates for zero-emission construction sites are no longer a distant possibility — they are the new standard. Clients are asking for electric rigs. Competitors are racing to adapt. And for machine builders, the stakes are high: get electrification right, or lose contracts.
Conrad Stanen, a Dutch manufacturer of vertical drilling rigs with over a century of history, faced exactly this pressure. They needed a battery partner that could match their reputation for reliability, safety, and innovation.
The Turning Point: Building a Partnership on Trust
Conrad Stanen’s first electric prototype used batteries from another supplier. “We had some problems,” recalls Bram Muurlink, owner of Conrad Stanen. The issues weren’t just technical, they were about trust. Certifications were missing. The warranty structure was unclear. And in an environment where high voltage meets water, dirt, and dust, uncertainty is not an option.
The turning point came through a recommendation to look at MG Energy Systems. What set MG apart was immediate and practical:
- Full certification portfolio “MG has all the certificates, and a lot of other companies didn’t have it.“
- Clarity “You know upfront what you get, and everything works fine.“
- Integrated safety training Conrad Stanen employees completed high-voltage certification training, ensuring safe installation and operation.
The Technical Setup: Built for the Real World
The drilling rig in focus is Conrad Stanen’s middle-class water well drilling rig, their best-selling model, now available in both diesel and fully electric versions.
Instead of simply swapping a diesel engine for an electric motor, Conrad Stanen took a fundamentally different approach. Every major power consumer on the rig runs on electric: the drill head, water pump, compressor, and hydraulic pack. This full-electric architecture delivers far higher efficiency than partial electrification.
The result? A rig that previously required a 150 kW diesel engine can now run and recharge on a standard 32-amp grid connection (~22 kW). With a 375 kWh | 400V MG LFP battery pack (three complete battery packs) on board, the rig can operate for up to two full days without recharging.
Proof Points from the Field
The transition to electric wasn’t just about regulations, it was about performance and operator satisfaction.
On power: “A lot of drillers think that they are less strong than a diesel engine, but the power is the same.” Operators who were initially hesitant became fully comfortable within five to six weeks.
On noise: “For the drillers it’s very fine because there’s less sound on the drill side.” In city centers, where Conrad Stanen frequently drills, reduced noise and exhaust fumes make a measurable difference for both workers and residents.
On efficiency: “We save a lot of energy. That’s why we can run with 32 amperes, what we normally run with a 150 kilowatt diesel engine.“
Integration That Works
The MG system integrates seamlessly with Parker electric motor and inverter systems. Conrad Stanen houses the 16 MG LFP 24V Standard battery modules in a custom steel casing, protecting them from the harsh elements of drilling operations. The MG Master BMS provides real-time monitoring and management, giving both operators and service teams full visibility into system health.
The Bigger Picture: Future-Proofing a Century-Old Business
Conrad Stanen has grown from 15 employees in 2008 to 60 today, producing approximately 40 custom rigs per year. Their ambition is clear: “We have to try that we can deliver every drill rig in an electric version.“
With MG Energy Systems as a battery partner, that ambition is technically achievable and commercially viable. The modular MG architecture means Conrad Stanen can scale from one-off custom builds to standardized electric platforms, without redesigning the power core every time.
Key System Specifications
| Battery Technology | MG LFP 24V Standard (Lithium Iron Phosphate) |
| Battery Management | MG Master BMS |
| Total Battery Capacity | 375 kWh (3 battery packages) |
| Battery Modules | 16x LFP 24V Standard modules |
| Electric Drive Partner | Parker electric motors & inverters |
| Grid Connection for Charging | 32 Amps (~22 kW) |
| Equivalent Diesel Power | 150 kW |
| Operating Range | Up to 2 days on battery |
| Application | Vertical water well drilling rig |
Customer: Conrad Stanen
MG Partner: AES
