International shipping company Carisbrooke Shipping signed a letter of intent (LoI) with the British solar technology startup Grafmarine to deploy the state-of-the-art solar energy solution NanoDeck on its ships.
Grafmarine’s NanoDeck is a “three-in-one” solar energy platform that integrates solar energy generation, storage and remote management. It uses a hexagonal, modular design with a mission to “turn any flat surface into power hubs.”
In addition to the new design, Grafmarine adheres to the strict framework to shape its supply chain. The solution is designed and driven based on three principles: eliminating waste and pollution, encouraging the circulation of the highest value products and materials and facilitating development alongside the restoration of nature.
Prior to this agreement, the companies had been working together for the past year. Carisbrooke Shipping has provided Grafmarine with a seagoing vessel to test their NanoDeck technology.
The ship was installed with NanoDeck cells. During the test, the NanoDeck returned real-time data that gave both companies a better understanding of how the equipment can generate solar energy for the ship while withstanding the rigors of a marine environment.
The first ship to install this solution was the UAL Osprey. Under the agreement, other ships will follow once additional testing is completed.
“We are extremely excited to be the first to trial such an innovative technology, which is already delivering promising results. With further modifications and upgrades, we hope that Grafmarine will find a viable solution not only for Carisbrooke, but also for the wider shipping industry to reduce their emissions and ensure sustainable shipping that goes beyond the IMO (International Maritime Organization) objectives,” said Captain Simon Merritt of Carisbrooke Shipping.
Over the years, the maritime sector has become highly dependent on heavy marine fuels for energy supply at sea and in ports. Research shows that emissions from all ships are increasing accounting for approximately 3% of total greenhouse gas emissions per year. There is an urgent need for the maritime sector to catch up with the pace of decarbonisation on land.
Grafmarine is committed to “greening” the maritime sector with the help of solar technology. Nigel Marc Roberts, commercial director at Grafmarine, said the partnership with Carisbrooke Shipping will help support the IMO’s vision for a cleaner and renewable energy source to reduce the industry’s huge impact on the environment due to greenhouse gas emissions.
The previous test was conducted mainly in equatorial waters. Grafmarine also has test sites in the Celtic Sea and on a port platform in the Port of Tyne. The company also has plans for more locations across Europe.
