Can I go around the world on renewable energy alone?

Hi All

Im trying to get a grasp on whats possible with some of the renewable energy sources thats out there.

If I have 4 solar panels, say 150 watts each, and the right amount of batteries / regulators, and whatever else I need, as the power system on my boat, could I take it around the world indefinately or would I run out of power and die a lonely death?

Cheers,
Halfmanpartfish

 

I wish it was an easy yes or no answer Halfmanpartfish.

You will need to do a bit of research to be able to answer that question for yourself.

Google for "electricity on yachts" , "energy requirements yachts" and similar search terms.

How much electricity will you use for lighting? How much for refrigeration? How are you going to manoeuvre to berth the boat? Are you going to have a motor and propeller etc?

You could get by with renewable resources. I dare say 4*150 watt solar panels will not be enough by themselves, because you will not be able to rely on sunlight everyday, hence you will need alternatives, such as water generators, and wind generators for those dark and rainy days. If you only run mooring and running lights, and perhaps a radio, you may get away with it, but start to include entertainment, refrigeration, heating, pumps, electronic monitoring, etc. Things start to mount up.

You will have do an energy audit on your proposed lifestyle afloat, and then do the calculations to renew this energy. Batteries are funny things, and their charging is idiosyncratic. Nothing is entirely efficient - the quoted output of solar panels is for ideal conditions, wiring loses energy by itself. You need to decide if the panels are going to remain perpendicular to the sun throughout the day, or remain horizontal, and accept the resulting reduced output.

The decisions are convoluted and you need to do a lot of thinking and calculating. Of course, if you have the money, you can pay others to do it all for you.

It is a great aim to be able to live off renewable energy entirely. If you look out at all those yachts that cruise the world, you will find not many rely on renewables alone. I think it can be done though, especially if you are prepared to do without some strategic luxuries. Good luck.

 

NO problem , thats why sail power was invented!

The "energy " needed is ONLY for your convience.

Salt pork and biscuts will get rid of the "need" for a fridge.

Fresh water , the head , and the bilge can all be done manually.

A coal stove can end the need for a furnace.

Only cooking would be difficult .

A Primus kerosene pressure burner as cooking stove will use about 5 gal of kero per year , not a big expense , compared to the effort of cooking with wood, or cow dung.

A GPS could be solar powered , or theres always the sextant & wind up chronometer.

Any old sailing book from the turn of the century would be a good guide.
Have you read old Josh Slocum?

FAST FRED

 

Thanks dionysis and FAST FRED! I think I have all I need now. I've learnt a lot in the past few months.

I've never heard of old Josh Slocum. I guess I'll grab a copy?

There was a 17 year old from around here in aus who sailed around the world on his own just a while ago.

And if anyone has a few million bucks to spare, just let me know.

 

How about using vegetable oil to run an engine/generator? Renewable, carbon neutral, biodegradable... there is loads about people running cars on it on the web - and from memory I think someone has used it on a specially designed powerboat to at least go round the uk... perhaps further...

 

The boat was called Sunrider, a Zodiac inflatable, and did indeed go around the world a few years back. I believe she ran on Biodiesel?

Tad

 

"I've never heard of old Josh Slocum. I guess I'll grab a copy?"

MUST!!! reading , his Solo voyage around the world is considered by most to be the first.

His old boat was slow but would steer itself easily.

Today an Aries wind vane would allow a faster passage (sails trummed to pull , rather than balance) and uses no electric .

Size is only for comfort , has little to nothing to do with Seaworhy,

There are loads of 60's era boats that could be easily modified to go ocean voyaging, most are in the $10K to 15K price range.

With a primative lifestyle only another 10K would get the rigging and offshore sails built, and the modifications made to the basic boat.

$25K will get you under way , and you don't spend anything at sea!

FAST FRED

 

You must read Slocum!

J. Slocum had a great sense of humour and his books are very enjoyable. You can find then in the internet for download. It's worth the effort like some other great classics.

At the salted park add sauerkraut for the vitamin C against the scorbut. James Cook and the Dutch sailors used it with great success in the 18th century.

If you go back to a 18th style of life, spiced now with some 21the high tech is perfectly possible...Read Moitessier, Bardiaux and many others.

If you have the intention to use a motor boat you'll run in trouble: solar panels or widmills are unable to give enough energy as the efficiency is too low. The lone renewable energy that works in the actual state of technology is the oldest one: wind an sails.

 

html of J Slocum's book:
http://www.arthur-ransome.org/ar/literary/slocum2.htm

also an interesting read is Richard Dana's book:
http://www.authorama.com/two-years-before-the-mast-1.html

 

You might die a lonely death, but not because of the technical difficulty of renewable energy. Its actually way less complex than internal combustion drives.
See:
http://www.solarnavigator.net/catamaran_hull.htm
http://www.solarsailor.com.au/

The lonely death would more be caused by "conventional" wisdom. I can imagine that the first guy to ever hoist a sail was considered a wild-eyed radical nutcase.

But 600 watts (4 x 150 watts) is less than a horsepower which might make it hard to take a 2000 lb craft over a twenty foot wave running against the wind. To beat the sea, you need enough energy to provide sufficient force to endure the conditions that you encounter. But at about $3000 per horsepower, renewable energy is only cheap if you consider its long life and low maintenance, and no fuel (except maybe in an emergency).

 

Then of course you could go the way of the oar club. Do without an engine all together and rely on your own seamanship.

 

Cruising 18th century style, including providing most of the food by hunting and fishing.

http://membres.lycos.fr/goudis

 

Slocum was brilliant. And, by the way, YES you can go around the world. Wind energy is both free and efficient. Sails in combination with a boat LITERALLY coated in solar panels on the top portion (not in the cockpit) will power you nicely. Cooking will be difficult, but emergency 5000 calorie rations are a good source of energy, obviously, and you can use a manual filtration pump for water and a direct pump-out manual head (with manual maceration? is that even possible)