Chinese company Guangzhou Shipyard International has delivered the first car carrier in the world equipped with its own solar panel power-generation system to South Korea's Korea Ocean Business Corporation. The ship is designed to carry up to 10,800 vehicles.
The project’s main feature is a solar power plant with a capacity of up to 200 kW, capable of generating about 1,000 kWh of electricity per day. It supports part of the ship’s systems and reduces fuel consumption. It is complemented by a dual-fuel power unit that runs on conventional fuel and liquefied natural gas.
The solar installation does not replace the engines — its output is not sufficient to move such a giant vessel. Its purpose is to reduce fuel use for powering auxiliary systems. Car carriers transport tens of thousands of vehicles around the world, so even a small reduction in fuel consumption on one ship has a noticeable effect over years of operation.
