Solar and Battery Advantage: Maximizing Efficiency
At SteelX, we prioritize efficiency and sustainability in yachting through advanced solar and battery systems. Our yachts integrate renewable energy to reduce fuel consumption, lower environmental impact, and provide reliable power for trips of all lengths. This page highlights how these systems work together to optimize performance, offering fuel savings and eco-friendly cruising.
Core Systems: Battery and Solar Power
Battery Bank: Reliable Energy Storage:
SteelX yachts feature a 96V battery bank with a total capacity of 93.6 kWh. It consists of 12 MG LFP304 batteries (25.6V, 304Ah, 7.8 kWh each), arranged in 3 parallel strings of 4 batteries. At a cruising speed of 6 knots (28.9 kW consumption), the battery bank provides:
- Autonomy: 93.6 kWh ÷ 28.9 kW = 3.24 hours of cruising on battery power alone.
This capacity supports short trips or acts as a backup, reducing generator use and enhancing sustainability across yacht sizes.
Solar Panels: Sustainable Energy Generation
Equipped with 16 solar panels (600W each), SteelX yachts have a peak capacity of 9.6 kW. Over a 10-hour day trip, factoring in typical weather (30% cloudy at 20% capacity, 40% average at 50%, 30% full sun at 100%), they generate:
- Average Output: 5.376 kW × 10 hours = 53.76 kWh.
The direct 96V DC system transfers solar energy to the electric engine with 100% efficiency, eliminating inverter losses and cutting fuel reliance.
Energy Performance: 10-Hour Day Trip
For a 10-hour trip at 6 knots, total energy demand is 28.9 kW × 10 hours = 289 kWh. Here’s how renewable energy contributes:
Scenario 1: Pre-Charged Batteries (Good Trip)
- Battery: 93.6 kWh
- Solar: 53.76 kWh
- Total Renewable: 147.36 kWh (50.99% of 289 kWh)
- Generator: 141.64 kWh (49.01%)
Scenario 2: Solar Only (Longer Trips, No Pre-Charge)
- Solar: 53.76 kWh (18.60% of 289 kWh)
- Generator: 235.24 kWh (81.40%)
Average Across Scenarios
Weighted average (Good Trip 40.54%, Good Trips Lazy 40.54%, Bad Weather 2.70%, Long Trip 16.22%):
- Solar: 49.39 kWh (17.09%)
- Battery: 79.68 kWh (27.57%)
- Total Renewable: 129.07 kWh (44.66%)
- Generator: 159.93 kWh (55.34%)
Fuel Savings and Environmental Benefits
Assuming 4.3855 kWh per liter of diesel, a 10-hour trip (289 kWh) requires 65.9 liters without renewables. Here’s the impact:
With Pre-Charged Batteries
- Renewable Energy: 147.36 kWh
- Fuel Saved: 33.60 liters (50.99%)
- Fuel Used: 32.30 liters (3.23 L/h)
Solar Only
- Renewable Energy: 53.76 kWh
- Fuel Saved: 12.26 liters (18.60%)
- Fuel Used: 53.64 liters (5.36 L/h)
Average Across Scenarios
- Renewable Energy: 129.07 kWh
- Fuel Saved: 29.43 liters (44.66%)
- Fuel Used: 36.47 liters (3.65 L/h)
Comparison to a 70-Ton Sailboat
- Sailboat: 7.94 L/h × 10 hours = 79.4 liters
- SteelX Average: 3.51 L/h × 10 hours = 35.1 liters
- Savings: 44.3 liters (55.79%)
Environmental Impact
With diesel emitting 2.68 kg CO2 per liter:
- Per Trip: 29.43 liters saved × 2.68 = 78.87 kg CO2 reduced
- Annually (8,000 nm at 6 knots = 1,333 hours, or 133.33 trips): 78.87 × 133.33 = 10,516 kg (10.52 metric tons) CO2 saved
- Vs. Sailboat: 28,370 kg (sailboat) – 12,537 kg (SteelX) = 15,833 kg CO2 saved annually (55.79% reduction)
Why It Matters
SteelX yachts combine performance and sustainability, cutting fuel costs and emissions while enabling low-impact cruising. Whether for a 3-hour jaunt or a multi-day voyage, our solar and battery systems set a new benchmark for eco-conscious yachting.