Wedoany.com Report-Nov. 10, Dutch maritime solar technology company Wattlab has signed a contract with Norwegian shipping company Berge Rederi to install its onboard solar energy system on what is expected to become the world’s largest battery-powered bulk carrier. The project will equip Berge Rederi’s new vessel, BRF Froan, with 96 Solar Flatracks, providing a total solar capacity of 172.8 kWp.

The BRF Froan is currently under construction and is scheduled to sail to Norway next summer. Wattlab will install the solar system during a stopover in Flushing, the Netherlands, completing the work within one day. Production of the Solar Flatracks will begin in May at Wattlab’s new manufacturing facility in the port of Rotterdam. Once delivered, the ship will transport marble from Brønnøy and Visnes to a production plant in Elnesvågen, Norway.

In addition to Wattlab’s solar system, the vessel will feature two rotor sails measuring 24 meters by 4 meters each. These sails are expected to generate average energy savings of 339 kW per voyage. The ship’s 23.5 MWh battery package will be charged at the loading port in Remman (Brønnøy) and the discharging port in Elnesvågen, both of which will be equipped with shore power facilities. An onboard electric excavator will further ensure emission-free cargo handling operations.

Bo Salet, Co-Founder and CEO of Wattlab, stated: “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.”

Salet also emphasized the importance of efficiency for shipowners: “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.”

This contract follows Wattlab’s earlier achievement of completing the world’s first solar energy system installation on a seagoing ship. The collaboration with Berge Rederi highlights the growing adoption of clean energy solutions in maritime transport, combining solar power, battery storage, and wind-assist technologies to enhance efficiency and reduce emissions in large-scale shipping operations.