The Frisian Solar Challenge for boats

As computerised nesting developed, many construction activities shifted from yard sheds and workshops to design offices. The last 10 years have seen a genuine revolution in yacht design, engineering and building. Vripack has led the way in optimising the possibilities of CAD/CAM technologies and set new standards in design capability. Today, Vripack functions as a professional design and construction office involved in the entire building process: Design, construction, plate extensions, nesting, systems, interiors, new construction management, brokerage, registration and class, VAT mitigation and so on. This means that in addition to serving owners, Vripack also counts many renowned Dutch and international yards as its clients, as well as working with other leading designers.

Vripack looks likely, from our standpoint, to be a significant player in solar boating.

The poster company for the region is APA.

APA's activities are focused on the development of new technology for the production of low-cost, thin-film solar cells. The development and manufacture of other cost-efficient thin-film applications using the company’s patented technology are developed in parallel with its solar cell development.

The new locations in Leeuwarden will be where APA intends to develop new technologies on a lab scale and then up-scale them to production level. APA is aiming to become an important player in the global solar cell market and is hence a great drawcard for bringing other innovative companies to the region.

APA's first solar cells are expected to have an efficiency of 6-7%. (adequate for large-scale applications) but the technology road map has APA planning to deliver solar cells with circa 10% efficiency in next few years, enabling all manner of decentralised energy applications.

In addition to the location of APA, and the formation of Czeers, there have been many initiatives in the field of sustainable energy consumption in Fryslân over the course of the last two years, including the start-up of electric boat company “De Stille Boot” in Heeg, the formation of a Solar Energy Knowledge Centre which researches new applications and improvements in the efficiency of solar panels, the Formation of the Electric Sailing Foundation, and the establishment of venture funding for projects and start-ups in the area of electric propulsion.

The second Frisian Solar Challenge for boats portends a new age – witness its second running here or in person if you are in the area. This is a significant event which will command a place in the history books several centuries from now. So it's worth a look and we also hear they’re very friendly down there!

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