A massive cargo ship just turned its deck into a power plant, and it could change the way the world moves goods forever.
According to Interesting Engineering, the Dutch company Wattlab has successfully fitted 44 Solar Flatracks onto the MV Vertom Tula, a 7,280-ton cargo vessel. The system generates roughly 79 kilowatts of peak power.
That might not sound like enough to push a steel behemoth across the Atlantic, but that isn't the point. The system produces enough energy to cover about 20% of the ship's "hotel load" — the energy used for lighting, air conditioning, and navigation systems.
Think of a cargo ship like a small town drifting in the ocean. Even when it isn't moving, it needs to keep the lights on, the navigation running, and the air conditioning blasting. Usually, that means burning dirty auxiliary fuel around the clock. These panels essentially let the ship cut the cord on its diesel addiction and run its daily operations on sunshine.
"The crew was skeptical at first, fearing a lot of extra work. However, they soon learned that in practice, Solar Flatracks are easy to use and require minimal maintenance," Captain Melle Boersma told Interesting Engineering.
Make no mistake; shipping is still notorious for its environmental footprint. But by harnessing solar power, vessels can cut fuel costs and reduce the emissions that warm our planet. It is a smart, practical step toward cleaner oceans.
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You don't need a cargo ship to take advantage of this tech. Installing solar panels is the ultimate home energy hack because it can bring your cost of energy down to at or near $0.
If you are ready to stop renting your power from the utility company, you can check out TCD's Solar Explorer to connect with vetted installers and save up to $10,000. The Solar Explorer also has $0-down subscription options, like Palmetto's LightReach program, that can slash your utility rates. Another partner, EnergySage, provides great options to help you snag incentives and compare quotes.
And the good news keeps on coming, because pairing solar with an upgraded HVAC can save you up to 50% on heating and cooling costs. TCD's HVAC Explorer can help you find the right system. You can also use the free Palmetto Home app to unlock rewards for making these upgrades.
Online, people were quick to see the potential.
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What's the most you'd pay per month to put solar panels on your roof if there was no down payment?
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$200 or more 💰 "This is absolutely low hanging fruit for reduction in CO2 emissions," one Reddit user noted.
A Facebook user clapped back at critics, saying, "Solar energy's carbon footprint is overwhelmingly lower than that of fossil fuels... solar panels generate clean, emissions-free energy for decades."
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