After delivering its first full-scale seagoing project to Vertom a little over a week ago, Wattlab signed a contract at Europort to outfit the hatches of the BRF Froan with their solar energy system. For Norwegian shipping company Berge Rederi this is the icing on the cake, as the vessel will be the world’s largest battery-powered bulk carrier.
BRF Froan is expected to be delivered in Q2 2026 and will transport marble from Brønnøy and Visnes to a production plant in Elnesvågen. The bulk carrier will get a solar energy system producing 172.8 kWp, twice as much as Wattlab’s previous project.
Bo Salet, co-founder and CEO of Wattlab: ‘It is an honour that with our second seagoing project, we, as a scale-up, can be a part of such an innovative vessel as the BRF Froan. In addition, this proves that both in the Netherlands and internationally, there is a real demand for solar energy in shipping. It also shows that our tested and proven technology is ready to be deployed at scale.’
Also read: First full-scale Wattlab Solar Flatrack on Vertom coaster
96 Solar Flatracks in one day
The vessel is currently under construction and will sail to Norway next summer. At a stop-over in Flushing, the Netherlands, Wattlab will install the 96 Solar Flatracks in one day. Production will start in May at their new production facility in the port of Rotterdam.
‘For shipowners, time is money,’ adds Salet. ‘Fast installation is crucial. Thanks to the smart design installing the system is simple, fast, and flexible. Should the need arise to clear the deck for special cargo, the Solar Flatracks can easily be stacked on the footprint of a 20 ft container.’
Focus on vessel operations
Wattlab is currently the only solar power supplier focused 100 per cent on the maritime industry. But that was only one of the reasons for Berge Rederi to choose their system.
Oivind Berge, owner of Berge Rederi says: ‘The knowledge that Bo Salet and Davd Kester have shown about vessel operations was key in our decision-making process. We were already familiar with their recent project for a Dutch shipowner, which demonstrated not only the installation process, but also the system’s real-world performance and operations.’
‘Bo and David understand the things that a shipowner has to take into account. For example, they know what kind of damages can come about, and how to prevent them. They’ve also ensured that the crew only has to spend minimal time in piling the hatches during loading; the system is easy to use,’ adds Berge.
Also read: Wattlab unveils plug-and-play solar panels for seagoing ships
Zero-emission vessel
The fact that BRF Froan is a groundbreaking coaster is not only due to Wattlab’s solar installation. Berge Rederi has opted to pioneer in their market with a zero-emission vessel. BRF Froan will feature two 24-metre x 4-metre rotor sails saving an average of 339 kW per voyage.
The 23.5-MWh battery package will be charged at the loading port in Remman (Brønnøy) and the discharging port in Elnesvågen. Shore power facilities will be installed in both ports. Additionally, the ship is fitted with an electric excavator to ensure emission-free cargo operations.
Picture: Bo Salet, CEO Wattlab (left) and Øivind Berge, owner, Berge Rederi, signed the contract for the Flatracks during Europort in Rotterdam last week (photo by Wattlab).
Also read: World’s first hybrid solar-powered inland vessel launched
