Wattlab Secures Contract to Equip BRF Froan With Solar Flatrack System

Wattlab has secured a contract to supply Berge Rederi’s upcoming vessel, BRF Froan, with 96 Solar Flatracks, forming a solar energy system with a total capacity of 172.8 kWp.

The vessel, currently under construction, is expected to arrive in Norway next summer. During a scheduled stopover in Flushing, the Netherlands, Wattlab will install all 96 Solar Flatracks in a single day. Manufacturing of the units begins in May at the company’s new production facility in the Port of Rotterdam.

Once operational, BRF Froan will handle marble transport between Brønnøy, Visnes, and a processing plant in Elnesvågen.

Alongside the solar installation, the vessel will be outfitted with two 24m x 4m rotor sails, expected to reduce energy consumption by an average of 339 kW per voyage. The vessel will also feature a 23.5 MWh battery system, charged at the loading port in Remman (Brønnøy) and the discharge port in Elnesvågen, where shore power connections will be available. An onboard electric excavator will enable emission-free cargo handling.

Wattlab Co-Founder and CEO Bo Salet said:
“First of all, we thank Berge Rederi for trusting our system – and us. It is an honour that with our second seagoing project, we, as a scale-up, can be a part of such an innovative vessel as the BRF Froan. In addition, this proves that both in the Netherlands and internationally there is a real demand for solar energy in shipping. It also shows that our tested and proven technology is ready to be deployed at scale.

“For shipowners, time is money. Fast installation is crucial. Thanks to the smart design installing the system is simple, fast, and flexible. Should the need arise to clear the deck for special cargo, the Solar Flatracks can easily be stacked on the footprint of a 20 ft container.”