Solar PV on Deck

Available deck-mounted photovoltaic energy and the auxiliary-engine fuel it displaces. Small but meaningful on car carriers, cruise upper decks, and offshore accommodation units with lots of uninterrupted flat area.

DesignRenewable

PV array

Usable PV aream²Deduct hatches, masts, safety margins. A PCTC roof = 5,000 m² net.Module efficiency–Modern crystalline Si 19–22 %, flexible thin-film 14–18 %.System performance ratio–Derates for soiling, cabling, temperature, inverter. 0.75 is typical marine.

Operating context

Average daily global horizontal irradiancekWh/m²/dayNorth Atlantic year-round ≈ 2.5; South Pacific 5–6; equatorial trade routes 5.5.Days of PV availability / yeardSubtract port stays if the array is obstructed by cargo.

Displacement

Aux SFOC displacedg/kWhAux fuel

Peak DC capacity: 315kWp

Annual energy produced: 318,938kWh

Aux fuel displaced / year: 66.98t

CO₂ avoided / year: 214.73t

Changing the inputs requires JavaScript. The calculator above shows its default inputs and result. The formula, symbols, and regulatory sources are shown in the Formula section below.

Formula, assumptions, and limits

E = A \cdot I \cdot \eta_\text{PV} \cdot \text{PR} \cdot d

Symbol	Meaning	Unit
$E$	Annual energy produced	kWh
$A$	Usable PV array area	m²
$I$	Average daily global horizontal irradiance	kWh / m² / day
$\eta_\text{PV}$	Module efficiency at STC	fraction
$\text{PR}$	System performance ratio - marine 0.70–0.80	fraction
$d$	Days of PV availability per year	d

Source: Eco Marine Power - marine solar references; IEC 61215 - crystalline-silicon PV module qualification; IMO Resolution MEPC.282(70) - SEEMP renewable-energy measures

In short

Annual energy yield and aux-fuel displacement for a deck-mounted PV array on a merchant ship.

Learn the theory Decarbonization Technologies for Ships