There is never enough energy on board. Chargers need to be supplied with power, as do cool boxes, lights and navigation electronics. But the battery capacity is finite, and at some point it has to be recharged. Solar panels are a good solution for this. However, not everyone wants to crown their cockpit with a large equipment rack in order to mount framed glass modules on a large scale, which is still the best solution in terms of price/performance ratio. Other solutions are needed.
Ultra-flat, flexible modules demonstrate their advantages on board. Only a few millimetres thin, they can be bonded to deck or superstructure surfaces without any restrictions. They are so light that they are also ideal for mobile use. Stowed below deck while travelling, they only come on deck when moored, can be adjusted towards the sun with a flick of the wrist and are therefore almost twice as effective as a model mounted flat on the roof.
However, this is not cheap. While framed glass modules have now become mass-produced goods, with prices of 1 to 3 euros per watt and quality requirement, the acquisition costs for ultra-flat panels are quickly four times as high. Small series and expensive materials drive up the price, and this will not change in the foreseeable future.
Reason enough to put the modules through their paces in a practical test. A total of six manufacturers supplied their products for the test; we focussed on models with an output of 70 watts. The test was carried out in the south of Morocco to ensure consistent, practical test conditions.
In the current issue of YACHT, you can find out who returned from the winter sun as winners and which modules did not live up to their promises.
