World's biggest solar boat docks in Hong Kong
There is "huge potential" to use alternative energy in the shipping industry, the man behind the world's biggest solar boat said on Monday as it arrived in Hong Kong as part of a global voyage.
There is "huge potential" to use alternative energy in the shipping industry, the man behind the world's biggest solar boat said on Monday as it arrived in Hong Kong as part of a global voyage.
PlanetSolar, a 31 by 15-metre (100 by 50 foot) white catamaran, is equipped with more than 500 square metres (5,380 square feet) of solar panelling and can reach a top speed of around 15 knots, equivalent to 25 kilometres (15 miles) per hour.
"We see there is a huge potential for solar boats," project founder Raphael Domjan said.
"We have the technology to change and we are optimistic."
Domjan acknowledged it was unlikely cargo and commercial ships would rely on solar power alone, but said it could be combined with other clean energy sources like wind.
The boat, which can carry up to 50 passengers, arrived in Hong Kong from the Philippines after embarking on a world tour from Monaco last September.
The 60-tonne Swiss-flagged vessel was built in Germany and cost 18 million euro ($26 million).
Merchant shipping accounts for 4.5 percent of the world's total greenhouse gas emissions, according to United Nations figures.
(c) 2011 AFP
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Aug 15, 2011
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Aug 15, 2011
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A lot.
The solar panels produce about 2 gasoline gallon equivalents of energy per hour, however, since electric engines are around 80% efficent vs 30% for most gasoline or diesels, then this thing really gets about 2.66 times as much distance per gallon equivalent as compared to an ICE boat motor, which ends up being 5.3 times as much distance per absolute energy unit.
However, I don't think this works at all, in terms of economics, because solar panels are so expensive, unless he got his from somebody selling them very, very cheap, or something else...
I figure it would take around 60 years of non-stop daylight operation for the panels to pay for themselves in fuel cost savings.
Aug 15, 2011
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Aug 16, 2011
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Aug 16, 2011
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How would it take 60 years?? Have you taken into consideration or calculated the cost of solar panels they currently use??
Do you even know what it costs to fill a gas tank of 32 foot boat that requires 10 hrs of usage?
Aug 16, 2011
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Assuming you have even a small battery bank, you can charge up on days that you're not underway.