M/V Auriga Unveils World's First Solar-Powered Cargo Ship

By Adrian Covert Posted 07.06.2009 at 3:11 pm 6 Comments

M/V Auriga Leader: World's First Solar-Powered Cargo Ship Inhabitat

The M/V Auriga Leader is the world's first solar powered cargo ship, which uses solar panels to provide up to 10 percent of the ship's power. Working alongside Toyota and NYK Line, the ship will be used to transport 6,400 cars while using less diesel fuel.

328 solar panels are mounted to the ship's top deck car carrier, which help power the ship's main electrical grid both at sea and in-port. M/V Auriga claims it will help cut down on emissions and raise fuel efficiency. The solar rig is able to generate up to 40 kilowatts, roughly enough to power 10 homes. Inhabitat sees this as a positive step for an industry whose work has some of the worst effects on the environment.

The M/V Auriga Leader is currently docked in the Long Beach Port and is open for public viewing. [GCaptain and LA Times via Inhabitat]

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6 Comments

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Kim - Talkingde...

07/06/09 at 3:39 pm

If this finally a glimpse at the future. It always seems to take so long to move concepts into reality. This is a very encouraging story.

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podboq

07/06/09 at 4:17 pm

Now maybe if they added one of those giant cargo ship kite sails to it....

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Jivaii

07/06/09 at 11:24 pm

I agree with podboq, combining the solar panel system with a cargo kite would almost completely remove the need for diesel fuel, right? or at least lower it dramatically, either of which would be good

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Ironwolf

07/08/09 at 9:19 am

Hmmm...wouldn't 'solar augmented' be a more appropriate description?

Granted, any effective 'aux' power source is a good thing, but we're a loooong way off from 'solar-powered' cargo vessels. As to the 'kite' idea, fine if the vessel is 'in port'. What ever increased wattage you would gain from any such device would have weighed against the increased 'drag' any 'solar kite' of useful output [i.e.-how big...].

All 'up-sides' come with a variety of 'down-sides'; those chasing the 'green-sustainable' grail have a tendency to downplay that troublesome bit of reality.

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podboq

07/09/09 at 11:04 pm

A solar kite? LOL

No, a freaking SAIL, ya know, wind power on tap.... We quit using sails because steam was faster, but they didn't have the ability to fly sails a mile high...or football field sized ones either... My guess is at least part of the time they'd have to limit the size of the sails because it would just haul ass across the ocean in a stiff wind...

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EParker

07/11/09 at 12:09 am

Are the cars they're shipping solar powered too? Looks like there's much more room for panels on the roof.