Proposed Hybrid Power System for Short Route Ferries.

A fractional fuel consumption saving as well as pollution cuts will be a thinking pattern or a key concern in modern ship designs. Recent advances in technology for solar cells and photovoltaic (PV) modules have resulted in solar power being a cost-effective fuel reduction alternative for this objective. This paper is intended to provide a hybrid solar diesel power system for short-run ferries. This work proposes and emphasizes the energy efficiency, cost efficiency and minimal environmental impact of hybrid-powered ferries with solar diesel. The proposed system has been studied on the example of passenger-car ferry connecting the two banks of the Suez Canal at Port Said city - Egypt. Economic and environmental analyses have been conducted to determine and measure the advantages of the proposed system. The results show an economically viable and environmentally sustainable system if it were treated as a long-term investment. Compared to the equivalent diesel generator system, this system reduces exhaust emissions by about 375 tonnes per year. The fuel cost savings achieved are also significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]