Green power

Green marketing works best when the idea of environmental benefit is matched by performance benefits. And when it comes to renewable power on board, the upsides are obvious. Keep your battery in good shape, stay out of port for longer and reduce your dependence on costly fossil fuels by fitting some renewable charging capacity to your boat. We explore the best of wind, solar and hydro-generation.

Wind turbines

Wind turbines are still popular because they work even when the boat is stationary (unlike hydro-generation) and in poor weather when solar panels have a poor output. There are many different brands, using slightly different technology, and suiting different installations. There is a whiff of snake oil about some of the marketing in this sector.

Siting is critical, as the blades must be above head height, and yet it’s good to keep heavy copper cabling runs as short as possible – for the sake of cost and efficiency. Each manufacturer takes a different approach to regulating the current coming out of the turbine; braking it in excessive winds; and charging the battery itself. These are complex topics. It’s no good having a hyper efficient