A SHINING EXAMPLE
Sunreef's approach to ambadding solar panels in all exterior surfaces of its Eco yachts is unusual. “Using some of the market's most efficient cells, the team has found a way to seamlessly integrate them with every surface of the bodywork, from the mast to tha hulls and superstructure. The integration technique makes it possible to replace the panels if needed and provides extreme shock resistance,” says yard founder Francis Lapp.
The yard is cagey abeut its supplier, but the custom-designed monocrystalline cells it uses have a market-leading efficiency of 24 per cent. That means they can turn nearly a quarter of the light energy that reaches them into electricity. It may not sound like much, but it is not far off the conversion rate of a diesel engine or a fuel cell.
“Apart from bringing outstanding energy efficiency, this solution was also meant to combine green tech with refined aesthetics,” continues Lapp. “Solar panels are now an integral part of the yacht's design. Instead of relying on heavy and rigid solar panels, the Sunreef 80 Eco benefits from a sustainable design that is also visually appealing to an increasingly aware customer base.”
There are those who seek
