Hong Kong’s Solar-Powered Ferries

By John Farrier in Science & Tech on Aug 10, 2009 at 7:59 am

These new vessels, set to enter service in November, get 3/4 of their power from solar cells and 1/4 from liquefied petroleum:

The technology could cut in half carbon-dioxide output on a typical urban ferry route, Solar Sailor said on its Web site. Makers of ships, planes and autos around the world are trying to cut greenhouse gases from transport, which account for about 13 percent of global emissions…Solar Sailor’s so-called hybrid marine power, a sea-going equivalent to Toyota Motor Corp.’s Prius car, according to Chief Executive Officer Robert Dane, can save ferry operators $6 million in fuel costs over a typical 15-year lifespan, the company says. Even so, recent development of the technology makes it hard to compete with the more established diesel motor industry, Dane said.

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  1. buddhaflow
    Aug 10th, 2009 at 8:16 am

    This is definitely very cool, but one correction – it doesn’t use liquefied gasoline (a bit redundant, right?) Rather, it uses liquefied natural gas – which I believe i Petroleum, and has like 90% less pollution than gas.

    I should know, I drive an 800cc LPG powered micro hippy van, and it’s great :)

  2. buddhaflow
    Aug 10th, 2009 at 8:19 am

    Ack, sorry. I’m all confused. LPG is, indeed, petroleum based – it’s usually either propane or butane.

  3. Lasse
    Aug 10th, 2009 at 8:23 am

    Now, that’s neat.

  4. nolly
    Aug 10th, 2009 at 10:33 am

    Where does one find an LPG station to fill up the tank?

  5. Foreigner1
    Aug 10th, 2009 at 11:39 am

    I like the idea.

    …But this contraption and the way it has been put together with the hybrid power and such looks like it has been concocted in some university-project. And as they say- modern diesel-engines are doing quite well these days.

    By the looks of it, I’d say this is a half-way solution that will be used for some little time and then be surpassed left and right by more sophisticated or simpler solutions.

  6. required
    Aug 10th, 2009 at 12:13 pm

    Foreigner1, these are not new by any means:

    http://www.solarsailor.com/

  7. Roger from Solar Power Facts
    Aug 10th, 2009 at 11:19 pm

    It’s beautiful and energy efficient. Great idea, and those mobile solar sail / covers on top are a great idea for maximizing energy harvesting. I like how the whole useable surface of the boat is covered with the panels.

  8. Barrys Solar Power
    Aug 10th, 2009 at 11:47 pm

    These are going to be great. The solar powered ferries will take you over to the golf course then you can drive around links in your solar powered golf buggy.

    Solar golf balls next?

  9. K!P
    Aug 11th, 2009 at 2:59 am

    @nolly,

    “Where does one find an LPG station to fill up the tank?”

    in the Netherlands LPG is avaiable at 80% of the normal gasstations.


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