Energy Storage at sea.

On a catamaran we install an ESS (Energy Storage System).

The owner’s wish is to be independent from shore power as much as possible and generate energy by solar power instead of a diesel generator.

There is a considerable power consumption on board because the couple live and work aboard and there are many electric appliances.

Under the bed in one of the aft cabins we install 2 lithium batteries from MG Energy with a total storage capacity of 14,4 kWh.

In the room in front of that, we install the BMS (Battery Management System) and the solar controller. In a cabinet we install a 5kW inverter/charger from Victron , which supplies the entire 230v system of the ship.

At the aft of the ship we make a stainless steel frame which carries 4 full size solar panels with a total power of 1100Wp. These are transparent glass-glass panels which generate energy on the back side as well. Sunlight that reflects from the water surface generates extra power. The yield increases 10-20% by that.

A Victron Cerbo in the navigation corner monitors and controls the entire system.

The result is that they barely need shore power any more and they can make long journeys at sea without power problems!