Recreational boating could become an important market for PV, amounting to several hundred MWp in Europe

As increased leisure time becomes generally available, many people are turning to lakes, rivers and canals for recreation. This increases pressure on the unspoilt environment, which is one of the attractions. Authorities and individuals are turning away from internal combustion engines on boats, which pollute the water and air. There is a move to electric propulsion, which is silent as well as pollution-free. This has opened a niche market for PV.

The Netherlands, which is well-known for its canals, lakes and rivers, is leading efforts to develop this market. Two demonstration projects, supported by the Dutch Government and the European Union, have been monitoring the performance of 13 PV/diesel systems, for domestic electricity on barges and house-boats, and 14 recreational boats with PV electric propulsion for the past four years.

The project concludes that the PV systems work well and are economically viable. A technical market potential of 50 MWp in the Netherlands is estimated, based on 22 000 motorboats and sailing boats, which could be fitted with an average of 60 Wp of PV (1,3 MWp) and 122 000 cabin vessels, which could use 400 Wp (49 MWp).

A larger project, to include around 74 recreational boats in Europe, has just commenced. This will provide important results for the IEA  PVPS project on Stand-alone and Island PV systems, Task 3.

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