Solon SE Launches Berlin’s First Solar Powered Vessel

Solon SE, a solar company headquartered in Berlin, just demonstrated their zero emission solar powered ship. At a ceremony, in which Berlin’s mayor Klaus Wowereit was in attendance, the company launched the first solar run ship named “SOLON”. The ship is Berlin’s first passenger vessel that will run entirely on solar power.

The solar panels, also supplied by Solon SE, are installed on the ship’s rooftop and generate a total of 5.6 kWp of electricity. The ship was built by SolarWaterWorld AG, who also recently installed the first solar charging station for ships in Berlin near the Köpenick district. SolarWaterWorld AG has been researching and manufacturing solar run ships for over seventeen years.

“We are pleased that in SOLON SE we have a strong partner that is involved in the wide-ranging expansion of climate-friendly solar mobility,” says Dipl.-Ing. Thomas Meyer, CEO of SolarWaterWorld AG

The “SOLON” has a capacity for 60 passengers and will mostly operate on tourist sailings around Berlin’s ports, as well as offer city tours and short cruise trips. The ship will cut down on emissions in the city as well, making tourist harbour tours more eco-friendly by providing zero emissions transportation.

Thomas Krupke, CEO of SOLON SE, said to press at the launch, “The future belongs to solar mobility, whether on roads, rails or water and ‘SOLON’ is one of the main drivers of this development.”

SolarWaterWorld AG continues to produce solar ships for commercial use. The company also manufacturers a smaller vessel known as the SunCat 23 which can be sailed without a license in Germany, and is designed to be used for leisure by amateur boaters. 

Thanks to alternative-energy-news.info for the above quotes, for more information on this story please view their website.