SoelCat 12 is a solar electric catamaran with lithium-ion battery storage targeted towards the ecotourism market.
A creation of Soel Yachts and Naval DC, SoelCat 12 features 8.6kW of solar panels and a total lithium battery capacity of 120kWh. The marine grade lithium polymer battery system weighs just 8kg per kWh.
The makers state it can travel at 6 knots, entirely under the power of the sun. Powered by two 30kW electric motors, SoelCat 12 can reach a maximum speed of 15 knots. At 8 knots, the craft can travel up to 6 hours on batteries alone.
“The SoelCat 12 offers a 100% sustainable alternative to conventionally powered boats used in the industry, so far,” said Joep Koster, designer and naval architect at Soel Yachts. “Furthermore, the boat can offer surplus solar energy to the resort when the SoelCat 12 is moored.”
Solar catamaran specifications
SoelCat 12’s mobile power station is able to provide 6kVA of AC power.
The solar catamaran has an overall length of 11.8m and a beam of 5.8m and it can operate in very shallow waters given its draft of just 0.6m. There’s room on board for 24 passengers and 2 crew, plus the deck configuration can be altered to suit a variety of purposes, such as diving or scientific expeditions.
Another interesting feature of the craft is the electric propulsion system can be remotely monitored from anywhere in the world via Naval DC’s Naval UI alarm & monitoring system.
The first vessel is under construction, with view to launch late next year. A “weekender” yacht version is also on the drawing board.
Naval DC says other craft in its portfolio range from 30-knot solar electric speedboats to a fleet of conventional solar electric sailing catamarans in the Pacific that have collectively racked up more than 350,000 nautical miles.
World’s largest solar electric catamaran
Trivia – the world’s largest solar catamaran (and solar boat for that matter) is Planet Solar’s Turanor. The vessel measures measures 31 metres by 15 and metres and boasts 93kW of solar panels. Turanor is currently heading for Paris (or may have already arrived), where it will be used as an “ambassador” vessel for the COP21 climate conference.
