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After 16 months, the world’s largest solar ship is heading back to Monaco. Making its last major stop in Abu Dhabi, fmME stops for a quick catch-up on the challenges and triumphs faced on the journey of the 85,000 tonne MS Turanor PlanetSolar
The MS Turanor Planet Solar, the world’s largest solar powered ship, docked at Abu Dhabi during WFES, its last major stop on its world tour.
Built in 18 months in Kiel, Germany, the boat is 35m long by 23m wide and is equipped with 537m2 of photovoltaic panels, composed of 38000 high performance solar cell, designed to supply power to six blocks of lithium ion batteries.
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With no fuel requirement and no CO2 production, the ship’s Master, Erwann Le Rouzic says it is totally different from sailing a conventional boat of its size.
“You can’t compare this with a sailing boat even though the size makes you think of one. We are on a motor yacht. Then again it’s nothing like a motor yacht because it is so silent and light. The navigation includes looking after the weather, particularly our generator – the sun. This differs from what you see on general boats.”
The double hull’s carbon sandwich structure is extremely durable and light for a boat of its size. Overall there are 20.6 tonnes of carbon fibres, 11.5 tonnes of honeycombs structured in sandwich-layers and 23 tonnes of resin and hardener used on the 85,000 tonne ship. Its sliding solar panels can be retracted in stormy conditions.
“In terms of energy and efficiency, it is a very well made catamaran. It is extremely efficient in passing through the waves and is quite light compared to any boat of this size and type.
We use about 10% of the energy needed for a boat of this size because we are so efficient at passing through the waves; there is very little resistance through the water. We use about the same amount of power used for a motorbike to push a boat of this size. To achieve full speed, we don’t need more power than that required for a small VW beetle, old model,” adds Le Rouzic.
Construction began in 2009 and it took 64000 hours to build. Brainchild of Raphael Domjan, the idea was to be able to travel the world using only solar energy, to promote the concept that it is possible to use renewable energy on a wider scale, than is being used now.
“It is something we can do, we have all the technologies available around the world and they are ready to be used. Planet Solar wants to lead the idea that we can be much better in using solar energy and in general other renewable energies,” says Le Rouzic.
Christian Ochsenbein, MS Turanor Planet Solar, engineer, says careful consideration has to be given to energy levels.
“The roof is full of photovoltaic cells. The sun shining on them provides electricity which can be used during the day to power the electrical motors. At the same time, we store the energy inside the batteries to allow us to sail at night.
The batteries, located in the floater, are a substantial size and allow us to sail for three days in complete darkness. But everything is dependent on this electricity source. The projectors, the lights, fridge, even the desalinator - we produce our own freshwater with solar energy.
“When we have empty batteries we cannot sail anymore, food goes bad, we have no navigation instruments, no communication instruments so it’s really game over. A challenge is always finding the best route, speed, and the different weather situations as well as having energy in the batteries.”
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