On 17th July, LRAJ GREEN, the first functional solar ferry in Goa, was formally inaugurated by Dr. Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa, along with Shripad Naik, Union Minister of State for Power and Renewable Energy. This marks Navalt’s first project to offer its reliable electric propulsion system, Greenship, to another shipyard.
The LRAJ GREEN vessel is a fully operational solar-electric ferry in Goa, powered by the Greenship solar-electric propulsion system that was specifically optimized for this vessel. Key technical specifications include a a 12 kW solar plant, propulsion batteries of 2 x 40 kWh Ray LFP units, an auxiliary 40 kWh battery, a 20 kVA backup genset, and 2 x 20 kW Mako motors. The system was designed with a strong focus on performance, safety, and reliability, leveraging years of experience from previous deployments in other Indian states.
It is noteworthy that the Goa River Navigation Department’s earlier attempt to deploy solar ferries was unsuccessful, which has been attributed to the wrong choice of technology partner in that prior project. This current success demonstrates how careful selection of technology partners and system integration expertise are crucial for the adoption of reliable and efficient solar ferry solutions.
We hope this initiative opens up alternatives to the Kochi Metro model, which is being promoted in various states, including Goa, as the gold standard for public water transportation. However, a closer look reveals that more affordable models like solar ferries can make water transport systems more viable and economical. As more solar ferries are deployed across India, this message will become loud and clear. A detailed cost comparison can be found in this technical paper.
Vessel Specifications:
- Length x Breadth: 15 x 5 m
- Capacity: 44 passengers + 4 crew
- Solar Plant: 12 kW
- Propulsion Battery: 2 x 40 kWh Ray LFP batteries
- Auxiliary Battery: 40 kWh Ray LFP batteries
- Backup Genset: 20 kVA
- Motors: 2 x 20 kW Mako
˘#SolarElectricBoats No. 35
Sandith Thandasherry 