Solar panels

Solar panels are devices that convert light from the sun into electricity. The energy generated from the panels can be stored in batteries and used to supplement diesel generators and thus reduce the power requirements from the engines. Solar panels on ships are not common on conventional merchant vessels at present, a few installations have however been done over the last years.

Applicability and assumptions

Solar panels are only applicable for vehicle carriers as these ships are the only ones with enough free deck space to utilise the systems. A large area of installation is required to produce electricity from solar panels.

Cost of implementation

The solar panel technology has become less expensive over the last years, a development which is likely to continue in the future. However, solar panels are unlikely to become much more efficient or less space consuming. They are presently approximately $0.5 (USD) per Watt of installed capacity. A solar system requires additional equipment beyond the modules. This includes cables, inverters (to convert DC power to AC) and the mounting structure. An estimated system for vessel installation price is set to $2.5 – $3 (USD) per watt, meaning that an installation of 150 kW would from $400,000 to $470,000 (USD). This value is still expected to decrease over time, based on what have been seen for land-based installations

Reduction potential

The estimated reduction potential for solar panels is 0.1 – 0.7% on total engine fuel consumption.

References

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