We’re used to seeing solar PV systems on rooftops, but now cruise ships are using this form of renewable technology. Here’s what you need to know:
How Cruise Ships Are Trialling Solar PV Modules
A new trial has seen solar PV modules added to the balconies of a cruise ship, resulting in a daily output of 3.8MWh. Scientists experimented with adding different configurations of solar PV panels to the balconies and roof areas of a cruise ship which travelled through the Caribbean, and later Norwegian seas, recording the effects of each controlled experiment.
Was Solar Technology Different from Rooftop Solar?
We are certainly used to seeing solar panels Gloucester on top of buildings and domestic properties, installed by firms such as https://gsmlimited.com/services/solar-panels/gloucester, who specialise in renewable technologies. But this approach is also inherently suitable for any kind of structure that has a physical space large enough to accommodate sufficient panels.
In this case, the large size of a cruise ship is more than ample to add a large number of solar panels to available sky-facing surfaces, which are sufficient to capture light and capture it in battery storage for consumption when it is needed.
How Could Solar PV Benefit Cruise Ships?
Cruise ships require huge amounts of energy to operate with hundreds of passengers on board and an intensive and energy-hungry operating structure. This requires on-board generation and hefty energy use, which solar power can greatly support. With enough solar PV panels in place, cruise ships could move towards a future where they generate much of their own energy from clean renewable solar sources, allowing them to be far more carbon-friendly and also energy-secure.
The Future Is Very Much Solar
Because of the nature of cruise ships, many forms of renewable energy are less suitable, but solar panels are an easy way to take advantage of long daylight hours and bring clean energy generation to the ship itself. It’s just another example of how solar energy is taking hold across the world in more innovative ways.
