Wattlab - brightening the future of short sea shipping

Rotterdam-based start-up Wattlab has enjoyed some well-deserved successes recently with its innovative Solar Flatrack solution – the first solar-power system to compensate the hotel load on ships, engineered specifically for seagoing cargo vessels.

The Wattlab story begins eight years ago when founders Bo Salet, David Kester, and Sieber Roefs were studying at the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). Bo was studying Space Engineering – which goes some way to explaining the large model rocket displayed in his office.

“I got that during my graduation project,” he explains. “It’s a sort of progression meter. I broke my project down into five sections, and every time I completed one, I allowed myself to add a layer. I symbolically added the tip during my final presentation.”

The three colleagues met while participating in the Nuon Solar Team, a student project to construct – and race – a solar-powered car.

“We had a lot of fun. After that, none of us was satisfied with our studies alone. We wanted another challenge. So, we said, ‘let’s start something’.”

To begin with they developed a lightweight solar panel and set out to identify companies for which they thought there may be a business case.

“We looked at everything from art to space to building facades to trucks,” he says.

Following an introduction to hatch manufacturer Blommaert Aluminium, Wattlab began to produce solar systems for inland shipping – today there are in the region of 30 vessels sailing with their solutions, thanks to this collaboration.

Soon though, Bo continues, the team began to see the potential of solar power in supporting the short sea sector in its bid for increased sustainability and efficiency.

The result was the development of Solar Flatrack. Since then, the system has been tested – and proven – in a series of pilot projects, and verified by TNO – the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research.

In one of the pilot projects, a Solar Flatrack system was installed onboard MV Vertom Tula. The first seagoing vessel to be equipped with the solar system features a 79 kWp installation. The system reduces the load on the vessel’s grid connectors and diesel generators, improving fuel efficiency and freeing up additional power for propulsion and onboard operations.

While the primary benefits of the Solar Flatrack are easily explained – a reduction in fuel consumption and emissions – there are a lot more benefits on offer, Bo states.

“For one thing – and particularly relevant for short sea applications at the present time – Solar Flatrack helps operators to comply with regulatory requirements such as the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII), Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI), EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime.

“Additionally, if there is a battery on board, adding solar power to the mix will lower the number of cycles, thereby extending the lifecycle of an expensive component.”

The system also requires very little maintenance. Bo explains that it can be straightforwardly cleaned along with the rest of the deck – either using water or detergent.

Wattlab has taken care to develop a system that can endure the harsh operating conditions required of a seagoing maritime application.

“We’ve used components that are proven in use for the long-term and made sure that vulnerable, expensive parts are durable, while parts that are likely to face wear or damage can be easily repaired or replaced by crew.”

Despite the rapid success of Solar Flatrack, Bo explains that there are still challenges to be overcome as Wattlab sets about positioning the system in the market.

“Sometimes we see that vessel operators assume that they need to remove the system each time they load or unload – which I understand would raise concerns, but it isn’t the case. The system is easily installed, within a few hours using the vessel’s hatch crane. Once it’s in place, you can leave it there and continue normal operations.”

However, he continues, the system can just as easily – and swiftly – be removed in the event an operator wishes to transport a deck load.

“The pieces are designed to be stacked, one on top of the other, forming the same footprint as a standard shipping container. They can just be secured in place and the rest of the space used to carry cargo.”

Another challenge is finalising the class regulations surrounding use of Solar Flatrack.

“Given that this is the first time that such a system has been used onboard seagoing vessels, there is a bit of a grey area surrounding classification requirements – as there is with any new technology.

"We've been in contact with the classification societies from the start. We're collaborating together to develop the Approval in prinicple."

Recently, as covered on Short Sea News, Wattlab has signed a contract with Norwegian company Berge Rederi, to install a system on BRF Froan – which, when delivered later this year, will be the world’s first fully electric bulk carrier.

“It’s a very exciting project,” says Bo. “As an engineer I look forward to the technical challenge involved. And also, this is a chance to really show what we can do – this vessel represents the future of short sea shipping.”