TU Delft

development of market of solar boats

Worldwide there is a growing need for electrical energy use. Solar or photovoltaic cells could play an important role in fulfilling this need in sustainable way. Unfortunately, despite of technical progress and price reductions, markets of photovoltaics (PVs) stay small. Nowadays, the application of solar energy technology is mainly focused on the building sector. Because of competition from fossil fuel-based technologies and lack of subsidies, the development of solar market is difficult.
However, PV-value-based products in specific niche markets might become pioneer business cases and secure competitiveness PV technologies without subsidies.
The project aims at finding ways to facilitate the development of markets of PV-based systems on boats (for propulsion, lighting/navigation, living applications, keeping batteries charged), where the advantage of independent energy supply is valued.