Cutting-edge yacht and electric catamaran designer Sunreef Yachts has unveiled its latest generation of solar skin technology. The silicon solar cells, designed in-house by Sunreef, are now more efficient, durable, and bolstered by AI optimization. As such, Sunreef is calling its Solar Skin 3.0 technology a “visionary leap toward the future of yachting.”
Sunreef Yachts has been operating out of Gdansk, Poland, for over 20 years alongside a newer footprint established in the United Arab Emirates. From day one, the boatbuilder has been pushing the boundaries of sustainable marine travel, launching the world’s first 74-foot luxury oceangoing catamaran with a flybridge.
Today, Sunreef remains one of the more exciting marine electrification specialists we cover here at Electrek, as we’ve watched its portfolio of eco-friendly sailboats and massive solar electric catamarans ranging from 60 to 100 meters in length grow.
In addition to new and ultra-luxe yachts that can go farther than ever on batteries and the sun’s power alone, Sunreef continues to push the boundaries of our planet’s waters with fully sustainable boat materials and its proprietary solar system technology.
We’ve already seen two previous generations of Sunreef’s silicon cells. Until today’s news, its Solar Skin 2.0 was already celebrated for its top efficiency and thermal stability on the water. Those cells can operate at temperatures above 100℃ (212℉) and withstand over 20,000 load cycles without cracking.
Today, Sunreef Yachts announced that it has taken its solar cell innovation even further, unveiling its Solar Skin 3.0 technology. This technology has been further optimized to improve efficiency, resulting in more range at sea.
Sunreef offers top efficiency with its new solar system
Per Sunreef, Solar Skin 3.0 picks up where its previous cell generation left off, delivering similar cycle durability and thermal resistance but with a more refined and efficient design that can further reduce marine vessels’ carbon emissions.
Sunreef states that its third-generation system has achieved the maximum efficiency for silicon cells. It now features smart panels designed using AI and real-time data to dynamically adjust output and avoid shade from the mast and sails. Company CTO Nicolas Lapp broke it all down nicely:
The latest generation of our solar skin technology offers top efficiency—currently the highest attainable for silicon cells—marking a major milestone in marine solar innovation. Leveraging machine learning algorithms and real-time data from Sunreef catamarans operating in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Dubai, we are able to continuously refine panel placement and optimize energy yield. Fully developed and produced in-house, each panel functions as a smart unit, dynamically adjusting its electrical output to mitigate shading effects from sails and superstructure, significantly boosting system efficiency even during winter months.
In addition to the solar system 3.0 technology, Sunreef said it had added next-generation photovoltaic cells to the bimini areas of its catamarans, designed specifically to optimize energy retrieval from shaded environments. This can help deliver enhanced solar energy generation in “less-than-ideal lighting conditions.”
Future Sunreef owners can use the 3.0 system’s intelligent yield optimization, which utilizes advanced algorithms to adjust electrical outputs in real time, particularly when navigating areas affected by excessive shade.
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