Wattlab has supplied a seaworthy solar energy system for Vertom’s new 7,280 dwt diesel-electric multipurpose vessel, Vertom Tula.
The installation includes 44 solar flatracks, which will power onboard systems and cut the ship’s hotel load by 20 percent. After production and assembly in September in Wattlab’s production facilities in Rotterdam, the flatracks were installed onboard within a day in the port of Harlingen.
“For shipowners, time is money, so speed and ease of use are important. Furthermore, we know that ‘space is money’ too. Hence, should the panels need to be removed to make way for a special type of cargo, the crew can easily stack and store them all on the footprint of one 20 ft (6.1 m container,” said Bo Salet, co-founder and ceo of Wattlab.
“Another benefit is that the panels can stay on the hatch covers during loading and discharging operations,” he added. “The crew was sceptical at first, fearing a lot of extra work. However, they soon learned that in practice, solar flatracks are easy to use and require minimal maintenance. For example, there’s no salt crust formation, because the water can drain freely from the panels.”
Thomas van Meerkerk, business development manager at Vertom, said that the system performs well in the tough coastal shipping environment, and can provide both a positive ROI and contribute to CO2 reduction in shipping.
Dutch independent research organisation TNO has validated the CO2 emission reduction and ROI time of the system. Its report will be published shortly.
