The feeling that the renewable energy sector is one of main application on building or transportation terrestrial (The famous electric car) is widespread, but other lesser-known sectors such as transportation shipping could have a high positive impact on the environment, in a general way they will change the type of traditional fuel that they use, fossil fuel, for more hybrid boats, boats electrical to 100% or large vessels that are powered by renewable energy.
It must be recognized that maritime transport is considered one of the cheapest modes of transportation different merchandise around the world, so it is understood that the growth of this sector on the economy is positive, but in reality this growth trend is weighing down an increase in greenhouse gases (GHGs), atmospheric or acoustic pollution.
Although new technologies are appearing to improve the qualities of the boats against the environment atmosphere; alternative propulsion systems based in the wind, new materials for their structures or helmets (even recycled), antifouling systems for boats (Prevention of corrosion and maintenance installations) and more resistant paints that extend the life of ships and boats. There is still a long way to go achieve as we will be able to verify throughout the article.
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According to data from the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Maritime transport involves emissions of about 1 billion tons of CO2 per year (About 2.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions greenhouse effect)
Emissions are predicted to increase between 50% – 250% by 2050, depending on developments economic and energy in the future. As we can verify in the following graphs:
This is not compatible with the agreed objective internationally to keep the temperature rise below 2°C globally compared to levels pre-industrial, where global emissions are required to be at least halved from 1990 levels to 2050.
According to estimates, the energy consumption of the ships and CO2 emissions in the field of maritime transport could be reduced by up to 75% by applying coherent operational measures and technologies that already exist.
So now we have to see what the proposals are and examples of boats and ships that are favoring the use of alternative energies and less contaminants with the objective of contextualizing the topic we are dealing with today.
It was a milestone in maritime navigation and It happened around that 2012. The project Planet Solar became the first ship solar electric to go around the world with flag Switzerland and thanks to the ingenuity of a businessman named Raphael Domjan.
It had a solar collection area of 537 meters square, the speed of about 8 constant knots and the possibility of sailing up to 3 days without receiving any lightning sunshine. Back then an impressive feat!
Now, not only the buyers themselves or users require a lower cost in fuel and more "ecological" boats, but also from the legislations "tighten the screws" such as the new applicable environmental guidelines from 2020 by which, in certain navigation areas, where ships must have a sulfur ratio less than 0.1% in its fuel, a fact that will become significantly more expensive.
The luxury yachting sector also wants to respect the environment, although a bit late, it is expected that for this next year you can enjoy the first yacht electric power of history.
Under the name Dasher, luxury reinvents itself with this runabout that leaves fossil fuel behind for the benefit of a fully electric propulsion system (The yacht moves with two Deep Blue 80i 1800 electric motors).
It will be one of the lightest yachts for sailing with a resin fiber composite hull epoxy – carbon, a handmade cover made of teak, which in this case, is actually an epoxy compound hand painted to resemble varnished teak, with sem>systems detecting the appearance of corrosion such as cathodic protection to prevent corrosion in boats that will extend the life of the mimes or an alloy of light titanium for the console, aspects that together you offer much less weight, maintenance and greater improved sustainability.
Although this project will not see the light of day until 2020 official, intends to be a revolution in the shipping industry, First, because it will be a large ship that uses only renewable energy and secondly, because it will be totally autonomous, that is, it will not need a single human on board (Regularly they need about 25 people) to carry out their lengths along the oceans.
Although this year it will begin to take its steps with 3 crew members to check all the possibilities and capacities of the ship, the forecasts are that by 2020 it will already work autonomously and with energy savings according to estimates of 90%.
Significant energy savings and new cooling systems navigation that will need fewer operators but that will undoubtedly be is in an economic debate (The ship costs 2 to manufacture times more than a conventional one) and a social debate that already affects many sectors on jobs that they will cease to exist.
Within our curiosity we thought if it would be possible transform a playground that uses fossil fuels to use solar energy to move around the sea.
Although the information we may have on the Internet is good reduced and apparently not many manufacturers provide technical solutions, yes we have found a document of interest to those who may have a bit of curiosity.
Transition roadmap and calculations to take into account account:
The previous scheme belongs to a Final Degree Project by the Nautical Faculty of Barcelona called « Guide to the application of solar energy as an alternative of renewable energy in recreational boats » (Carried out by Óscar López Sánchez). A guiding document that seems of interest to those who want to be sailors more aware of the environment.
Article written in collaboration with Sergio W. Smit specialist consultant in nautical tourism and sports aquatic.
