I went looking for best solar powered catamarans for 2022. Here’s what I found. If you have been reading my site for a while, you know that catamarans are incredible boats. I’m interested in solar power and catamarans really excite my imagination. There are three new solar electric catamarans. In this article I discuss the three best solar powered catamarans in the world!
There are three best solar electric powered catamaran companies. Catamarans are ideally suited to electric power because they are lightweight, extremely fast and have flat roofs for solar panels. Boats must get most of their power from solar because cannot plug into the power grid. These three solar powered catamarans are leading the way: Silent 80, Sunreef 80 and Senses 48.
There are some really exciting events happening in the solar catamaran world. As the son of a NASA contractor electrical engineer and Ham Radio dad and a solar enthusiast, I find this exciting.
The Three Best Solar Electric Powered Catamarans for 2022
There are three companies that are building solar electric catamarans. I am sure there are, or will be, others very soon. These three companies are:
SILENT Yacht
The first of the best solar powered catamarans for 2022 is the SILENT 80 made by SILENT Yachts. SILENT Yacht is a partnership between Volkswagen, Cupra and Aquanima. The SILENT Yachts’ office is in Port Adriano, Mallorca, a semi-autonomous region off the coast of Spain and one of the most beautiful harbors in the Mediterranean. A SILENT 60 will be moored outside the entrance. Their flagship the current model, the SILENT 80.
After traveling the oceans on conventional motorboats and sailboats for 40 years, pioneers Heike und Michael Köhler came to the conclusion that there had to be a better way to supply the propulsion systems and the onboard appliances of yachts.
They began research on solar power in 2004 with research. This lead to construction of SolarWave 46 in 2009 and later.
Current SILENT Yachts models for 2022 include:
- SILENT 60
- SILENT 62 3-Deck Open
- SILENT 62 3-Deck Closed
- SILENT 64
- SILENT 80
- SILENT 80 3-Deck Open
- SILENT 80 3-Deck Closed
There are other models available, including the SILENT 100, SILENT 60 and pre-owned yachts like the SILENT 55.
SILENT Escape
The company plans a network of SILENT Resorts. The solar array for Silent Yachts’ also works to power Island solar technology. The resorts, homes and vessels are completely powered by the sun. Silent Resorts are planned for the world’s uncrowded, undiscovered, and most pristine places.
SILENT Independence
The large amount of power generated by the huge solar panels and the impressive battery bank and electric motors give the SILENT line unlimited range. This unlimited range means the boats can travel to unique private island locations. Silent Yachts is developing Silent Resorts worldwide. These resorts are powered by the same panels that power their boats, means their members and guests can enjoy ocean independence!
SILENT Sustainability
The SILENT network plans a global revolution in land and sea experience. Their vision includes an exclusive, secure, self-reliant, sustainable enjoyment that is in harmony with nature. Without the invasive diesel infrastructure and the overbuilt ecologically insensitive development that usually includes.
Sunreef Power Eco Yacht
The second of the best solar powered catamarans for 2022 is the Sunreef 80 made by SunReef Yachts. The top of the line vessel for this company is the 80 Sunreef Power Eco. The company calls their craft the avant-garde of eco-responsible motoryachts. It’s a fully-customizable luxury catamaran. This boat uses some of the latest innovations in the yachting industry to reach exceptional efficiency in solar propulsion.
The 80 Sunreef Power yacht maximizes solar generation with a very impressive 40kWp of capacity. Sunroof achieved this level through an ultralight hull and an ultramodern type of solar system. New designed solar panels cover most of the vessel.
UltraLight Battery
The electric catamaran is fitted with a state of the art, ultralight battery bank. This is astonishingly 30% lighter than the batteries currently used in nautical use today. These batteries reach an impressive density of less than 5.2kg / kWh for both increased performance and efficiency.
Infinite Range
The fully-electric 80 Sunreef Power provides for silent cruising. This means infinite range with electric engines powered from the dedicated battery bank. The hybrid version of the 80 Sunreef Power combines the best of electric motoring with the advantages of thermal engines.
Kite Assisted Range
An old technology with a new twist is that under the right conditions, wind power can be harnessed in the form of kites. A kite can be added for even more performance and autonomy.
Soel Solar Electric Yachts
The third of the best solar powered catamarans for 2022 is the Senses 48, made by Soel Yachts. Soel is an abbreviation from “SOlar ELectric”. Soel Yachts has offered solar electric boats since 2016. Their sustainable electric vessels deliver performance and range due to the carefully matched system. Soel uses architecture from navy combined with in-house design. The company is international and headquartered in the Netherlands.
Fully Energy Autonomous
Soel believes in creating a meaningful experience. According to their website, their designs that are highly efficient and fully sustainable. Their solar designs are fully energy autonomous and silent on the water. They optimize every boat for their clients’ needs.
Highly Efficient Hull Lines
They do this is by perfecting highly efficient hull lines perfectly matched with the solar electric propulsion system. This expert design approach delivers the desired operational profile and delivers a highly reliable solution.
Certifications and Regulations
Soel is with the rules and regulations of most classification societies and they can guide you through local requirements for navigation permits. This is useful for pleasure crafts according to the Recreational Craft Directive, for Commercial Directives and for a Passenger Vessel notation.
Conclusion
The boating world is being transformed, just like the automotive world. Electric is replacing the gas cars, and the diesel boats. There are not many ways for generating electrical energy on the ocean: wind generators, re-generative motors and solar. Solar is not highly efficient yet, but it is the most efficient so far. Advances are being announced rapidly in solar panels, batteries and electric propulsion.
The early digital cameras were terrible compared to their chemical and film ancestors. However, the change from film to digital was inevitable, and it took a relatively short period of time. The inventive period saw innovations and adaptations.
However, once the change began, the change was rapid and it could not be stopped. The transition from 99 percent film to 99 percent digital took only 7 years. The world is past that stage with cars. We may be past that stage in boats. As a result, we can look for even more exciting changes coming very soon.
The film-digital change is worth noting in another way. The early digital images were wildly expensive and totally unacceptable according to film quality standards. However, as adoption became widespread, the prices fell and the quality rose dramatically. Therefore, we can expect to see the same changes in solar powered cars and boats.
If I missed something or you have a question, please leave me feedback and I will get back to you.
Sources:
https://www.silent-yachts.com/
https://sunreef-yachts-eco.com/