Making hay while the sun shines

Work Boat World, February 2009

Solar powered vessels seem to be everywhere at the moment - at least to me, which I presume means that they have been gaining attention for some period. There's little doubt in my mind that their star has been burning bright as a result of two things: environmental concerns, notably greenhouse emissions, and the high cost of hydrocarbon fuels.

With both increasing, the conditions have been ideal for transforming a nice idea into a commercial reality. Speaking to the Editor in Chief over Christmas he pointed out that the idea was not exactly new. Of course, he lives in a country where the sun shines a lot so I should not have been surprised when he pointed out that an Australian company, Solar Sailor, have actually had a decent sized boat on the water for a number of years. What's more, things are really heating up for them now with a number of new orders.

While the green community points its finger at China as a major polluter, they are prominent in the apparent move to solar powered vessels. Solar Sailor has confirmed orders for at least five new hybrid-powered passenger vessels from the world's most populous nation. One of these is for a company called Suntech Power Holdings, which, as the name suggests is a player in the broader solar power market. Its 31.1m aluminium cataramaran will be featured at the Shanghai World Expo next year. It's no speed demon - 10 knots with generators running and six knots running on solar and wind power. The key there, though, is that that's six knots with no emissions.

Solar Sailor's other contract is, somewhat surprisingly, with the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) which is going to take four vessels for a ferry service that runs to a golf course (I am not making this up). These will be 24 metre low wash cats, with a maximum speed
of 16 knots and six knots without emissions.

It doesn't end there. Reports in the Australian media indicate that COSCO (yes, that COSCO) is also looking at placing solar wings on two of its large merchant ships.

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