Development and Evaluation of a Solar Yacht: Enhancing Aerodynamics, Harnessing Solar Energy, and Assessing Costs and Environment Impact

The research develops and evaluates the design and performance of a solar energy yacht, which seeks to improve maritime sustainability and decrease marine contamination. The development procedure produced an energy-efficient photovoltaic system and a hydrodynamically optimized hull by executing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations, solar array integration, and thermal analysis. Three different design modifications were investigated to improve both power generation from solar energy and water drag reduction efficiency. The ultimate design accomplished an appropriate blend of solar power combined with aerodynamic performance to deliver a 10 km/h cruising speed through its 55 m² solar panel composition. The project team examined both environmental and financial aspects of the design.