For buildings, people turn to solar panels primarily to save money on utility bills or to care for the environment. But when it comes to a boat, there are additional reasons than just those. Installing marine solar panels is a great solution if you want to experience the true freedom of unlimited sailing with the comfort of modern conveniences. And in this article, we will tell you why.
Modern Solutions
Previously, only the rare sailor would dare to install solar panels on a boat. They spoiled the appearance, required a lot of space, hampered the aerodynamics and provided minimal electricity. And if you add all that to the aggressive, humid air of the ocean, the situation gets a lot worse. So it’s not surprising that most sailors preferred diesel generators to provide their power.
These days yacht owners can purchase light, thin solar panels that don’t require much space. At the same time, their efficiency has increased significantly.
Advantages of Solar Panels on Boats
Electricity Savings and Environmental Benefit
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Boats typically rely on diesel fuel for powering their engines. They also generally use diesel generators to power the boat’s equipment and devices (this power usage is referred to as ancillary power, or hotel loads). These hotel loads draw on the battery bank for power, which could be supplied from either diesel generators, or renewable energy sources such as solar, wind or current.
Solar panels can be easily mounted on the deck or roof of a yacht, sailboat or vessel of any kind and produce electricity, which prevents the need to carry extra diesel fuel for the generator.
Thanks to alternative energy, yachts and boats become independent of external energy sources, which is a significant advantage, especially on long voyages. In addition, these solutions reduce carbon dioxide emissions and air pollution, which contributes to creating environmentally friendly sailing conditions. If a vessel makes the switch to full electric, the savings and rewards are even greater.
Solar energy is infinite and inexhaustible. Every time a yacht or boat uses panels, it reduces its dependence on a conventional energy resource. This helps reduce oil or gas consumption, reduces the impact on the environment and helps preserve our natural resources.
Increasing Sailing Efficiency
Installing solar panels increases a boat’s sailing efficiency. They reduce the amount of fuel need to be kept on board, which means less weight on board, cutting down on drag and contributing to higher speed and agility.
Solar photovoltaic is also low maintenance and reliable, cutting down on the costs and loss of time required to maintain them as compared to diesel generators.
Solar panels can increase autonomy. When in the open ocean far from any available sources to refill fuel, solar PV can provide a constant power supply to the ship.
Versatility and Ease of Installation
Flexible solar panels, in particular, offer ease of installation. They are light and thin, so they’re easy to install on almost any surface of a boat. They can be set on the deck or roof of a boat without needing a lot of space or special fasteners.
Due to their versatility, these panels can adapt to the curves and shapes of the surface, allowing placement on complex and uneven surfaces. This simplifies the installation process and minimizes the need for special surface preparation. They can also be easily removed and placed in another location or used on another boat.
If you want to increase your autonomy and feel real freedom at sea, marine solar panels are a great choice. They’re easy to install and do not require additional supporting structures. The cost of purchasing the equipment will pay off, thanks to fuel savings. And, of course, we must not forget about silent operation and lack of air pollution, making them an attractive option for boat owners.
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