Solar Panels and Onboard Energy: The Guide to Becoming More Self-Sufficient

On board a riverboat, energy is precious. Between navigation needs, living comfort, and safety, it is essential to properly manage your electricity production .

Installing solar panels is one of the most reliable and environmentally friendly solutions for increasing your autonomy . How do solar panels work on a riverboat? Which installation should you choose? What are the advantages and limitations you should know about? Here is a complete guide to help you make the right choices.

Why install solar panels on a boat?

Life on board a boat, even on calm waters, requires many electrical needs: lighting, refrigerator, water pump, navigation instruments, telephones, computers, heating, etc.

Solar panels help reduce dependence on the engine (and therefore its alternator) or on the electrical terminals in ports. The main benefits are:

• Increased autonomy during stopovers at anchor or on isolated banks.
• Reduction of fuel consumption , therefore costs and ecological footprint.
• Continuous charging of batteries , extending their lifespan.

️ Tip from GuyBoat: Even a small 100W solar panel is enough to keep service batteries healthy during long periods of inactivity.

How do the solar panels on board work?

The principle is simple:

Photovoltaic cells c