Rotterdam based Wattlab Break Guinness World Record with MS Helios

During the World Port Days in Rotterdam, the inland vessel MS Helios was moored along the Wilhelminakade, which has been renamed “Innovation Quay,” near the Erasmus Bridge. The ship, operated by HGK Shipping, is now officially recognized as the inland vessel with the most solar panels in the world. The Rotterdam-based company Wattlab developed the solar panels, and construction company Blommaert installed them on the hatch covers. The Guinness World Records jury officially confirmed that the record has been broken.

Read the scale-up journey of Wattlab.

Self-Sufficient and Clean

Wattlab’s innovative solar panels are ultra-thin and designed specifically for the hatches of inland vessels. This allows each ship to generate a significant portion of its own electricity. Without these panels, a ship relies on a generator for power, which usually runs on fossil fuels. With the new panels, the generator operates much less frequently, reducing noise, fuel consumption, and CO2 emissions. Each ship can have a tailored solution, either using existing hatches or with new ones. These hatches can slide over each other without needing to remove the solar panels. The only requirement is to connect and disconnect when loading and unloading. A safe and quick coupling system has been designed for this purpose. Custom work is carried out by various companies.

What Does It Achieve?

The MS Helios, with its 312 solar panels, generates enough energy to power approximately 30 households. On an average summer day, the panels produce 482 kWh, while on an average winter day, they produce 55 kWh. This energy feeds the ship's electrical system during both navigation and while docked. Any surplus energy is stored in a battery. As a result, the ship becomes independent of shore power and significantly reduces its reliance on the generator (by up to 93% fewer operating hours). The propulsion system of the ship is not connected to the solar panel system.

Support from Smart Energy Systems Subsidy

The City of Rotterdam provided a boost to the development of these innovative, ultra-thin panels with a subsidy from Citylab010. This funding enables Wattlab to continue developing more floating solutions. According to Bo Salet from Wattlab, there are more possibilities: “This record is fantastic, but we are already working on a product for dry cargo shipping at sea, aiming to use surfaces like containers to generate energy. The subsidy from Smart Energy Systems is helping us to develop this further.”

The Smart Energy Systems (SES) program from the City of Rotterdam supports entrepreneurs in developing their ideas for the energy transition, such as Wattlab. A new SES application round begins in September. For more information, visit www.ondernemen010.nl/smart-energy-systems.

Source: City of Rotterdam

Credit: Wattlab

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