Solar boat: what system do you need to connect your devices on board

Can you imagine going around the world in a solar boat? Today that is possible, although of course the equipment needed to perform such a feat is difficult for most people. It would require a huge investment, since the type and size of the PV system you would take on board would have to be able to support the connection of equipment and also the propulsion of the ship.

However, if you are an amateur who likes to enjoy taking rides in a small boat and want to use renewable energy to connect your appliances, this article will help you calculate what type and size of solar panel kit for boat you need .

How to calculate the amount of energy a solar boat needs

Before you start buying solar panels for a boat, it is necessary to know how much energy your solar boat needs. To do this, the first thing is to prepare a list of the number of devices that you want to depend on this type of electricity and the consumption of each one.

To do the calculation, we will use a scheme like this, with which you will have to create your own list:

Appliance - Power Consumption	Hours of use	Total watts based on hours of use
Mini fridge 60W	24	1440
Bulb 60 W	6	360
Fan 90W	4	360
Total:	34	2160

Suppose you are looking for solar panels for sailing boats, with which you can go sailing for a month. To get the total watt-hours for each appliance, simply multiply the total watts your appliance uses by the amount of time you have it running. For example, a 60W mini fridge used for 24 hours = 1440Wh.

Once you have taken note of all your appliances and the amount of time they will be on, you should get the total Wh (watt hours).

Note that for simplicity we have given you a simplified example, so don't forget to add everything you want to be powered by PV.

Once you have obtained the total watts based on the estimated hours of use, you can calculate how many boat solar panels you need. To achieve this, use this formula:

( Monthly electricity use / Monthly peak sun hours ) x 1000

Power of a solar panel

Let's start with our monthly electricity bill. We have already established that it consumes about 2160 Wh per day. Let's multiply this by 30 days (one month): 2,160 x 30 = 64,800 Wh or 64.8 kWh.

Once this result is obtained, we have to determine the number of peak hours of sunshine in the area. To do so, you'll need to enter that location into the Global Solar Atlas.

In the example, we will be sailing along the coast of California, which receives about 5.2 hours of maximum sun per day. Let's multiply that figure by 30 to get the monthly reading: 5.2 X 30 = 156 hours of maximum sun per month.

Remember that if you plan to travel a lot, you will have to calculate the average of the hours of greatest amount of light that your boat will receive based on its location.

Now yes, you can use the formula that will tell you how many solar panels for boats you need:

(64.8/156) X 1000 = 415 watts

You will need a total of 415 watts to power your boat's equipment. You can complete the formula by dividing the result by the nominal power of the proposed panels, which will give you the number of solar panels for boats needed.

Let's say we want to mount 100 watt panels on board: 415/100 = 4.15 panels needed (let's round up to 4).

How to calculate the battery your solar boat needs

It is important to keep in mind that it will not be sunny every day and that the panels will not receive power at night either. This is where solar boat batteries come into play.

Once again, you'll need the table we created earlier to calculate it. Take note of your daily watt-hour usage and select the voltage size of your batteries:

• 12V - Smaller systems
• 24V - 48V - Medium and large systems

We will use 12 volts for our boat. 2160Wh divided by 12 volts = 180 Ah (ampere hours).

Now we will take into account the days of autonomy, to make sure that there will be enough energy on the days that the sun is not able to power the devices or charge the battery.

180 X 2 days = 360 Ah.

Which means that 360 Ah is required to power the devices of our boat at night, and in the worst case, during a prolonged period of 2 days without sun.

(Note: we have not accounted for inefficiencies and temperature coefficients in our calculations.)

Can I use a Bluetti solar generator on a solar boat?

The Bluetti generator is suitable for any type of boat. Although technically it will not be a solar boat, because they are also powered by photovoltaic electricity. What you can do is connect the devices on board without problems, if you buy the right one to power everything you need.

In addition, acquiring a Bluetti generator will represent a much lower investment than mounting the panels and the entire system on board, since it does not require installation. Using it is very simple, you only have to connect to it the devices you need to feed them directly. To recharge it –as long as it is not night or cloudy– you can do so with 200-watt photovoltaic solar panels.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How does a solar boat work?

All boats require propulsion power, whether rowed, by wind, or by a fuel-powered engine. In the case of solar boats, they obtain it from the sun by using panels and storage batteries that transform light into electrical energy to drive it.

2. Are boat solar panels worth it?

Powering your boat with solar energy has numerous advantages. One of the most interesting is economic savings. Although it is true that you will have to invest money up front to buy the solar kit or portable generator, once it is up and running, you will be able to power your appliances with free energy.

3. What is a solar boat?

Solar ships use renewable energy from the sun to power their engines, electrical systems, and on-board appliances. They do not use generators or fossil fuel engines, since they cover all their energy needs through solar panels and batteries.