Dutch maritime solar technology company Wattlab has successfully delivered a seaworthy solar energy system for the diesel-electric vessel MV Vertom Tula, owned by Dutch shortsea shipping company Vertom. Following two pilot projects conducted with Wattlab over the past three years, Vertom decided to equip its latest 7,280 dwt multipurpose cargo ship with 79 kWp of installed solar capacity, making it the first seagoing vessel to be fitted with such a system. The ship was delivered earlier this year.

Wattlab installed 44 Solar Flatracks designed to supply power to the vessel’s onboard systems, reducing about 20% of the hotel load. The company described the system as “a major technical milestone and a step forward for sustainable shipping.” The Solar Flatracks were produced and assembled in September at Wattlab’s new production facilities in Rotterdam and were installed within a single day at the Port of Harlingen.

Before the full installation, Vertom conducted two pilot tests with Wattlab to assess the performance and advantages of the solar system under real operating conditions. The SolarDeck pilot project was co-financed by the European Union’s Just Transition Fund (JTF), which supports climate transition initiatives as part of the European Green Deal and aims to achieve EU climate neutrality by 2050.

Bo Salet, Co-founder and CEO of Wattlab, expressed gratitude for the collaboration: “We thank Vertom for their trust and the smooth collaboration in the past three years. Without them we could not have achieved this milestone; that goes both for the vessel itself as for the technology. We wish the Vertom Tula and its crew fair winds and following seas! In addition, we thank the EU’s Just Transition Fund (JTF), which co-financed this project.”

According to Thomas van Meerkerk, Business Development Manager at Vertom: “During the pilots, the test results showed that the Solar Flatrack system performs well in the tough coastal shipping environment. Based on the results of our own and TNO’s research in the past months, we consider Wattlab’s Solar Flatrack an effective option for reducing GHG and pollutant emissions. Of course, these things also depend on the conditions our vessels operate in, but it’s clear that the system can provide both a positive ROI and contribute to CO2 reduction in shipping.”

Dutch independent research organization TNO validated the CO2 emission reduction potential and return-on-investment period of the Solar Flatrack system, with a full report expected to be published soon.

The deployment of this full-scale system on a coaster represents a significant advancement in maritime decarbonization strategies. With increasing regulatory requirements such as FuelEU Maritime and the EU Emissions Trading System, along with fluctuating fuel prices, shipowners and operators are seeking reliable solutions to diversify their onboard energy sources.

According to both companies, this project demonstrates the potential of integrating solar technology in commercial vessels, supporting emission reduction, improving fuel efficiency, and strengthening energy resilience in the maritime sector.

by pv-magazine