Eco Factor: Concept passenger ship powered by onboard photovoltaic array.
With the recent developments in photovoltaic systems, we’ve seen solar panels being integrated into everything from airplanes to portable gadgets. Solar Water World is taking solar energy generators to the open seas by integrating them into a concept passenger ship they call the SunCat 2000.
To get the most out of the energy generated onboard, the ship makes use of the newest in technology to keep it lightweight and aerodynamic. With the optimization of underwater lines and the plastic sandwich construction, the SunCat2000 is able to reach a top speed of about 6.5 knots.
The designers state that the environmentally-friendly and resource saving ship can carry 120 passengers. The 27m long and 6.80m wide ship would weigh 20 tons with 120 passengers onboard. Solar Water World claims that once developed, the ship would be able to operate endlessly on a sunny day, but in overcast conditions its operating time would be limited to 10 hours.
