solarCat
The project is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
Total project value:
4.517.124,82 kn
EU co-financing the project:
1.395.885,43 kn
Project implementation period:
March 2017. – June 2020.
The project aims to create a new product from iCat d.o.o., which seeks to respond to the social challenges of smart, green and integrated transport.
Synthesizing the answers to the challenge within the economically self-sustainable model of maritime passenger transport, this project represents a social innovation whose application provides the possibility of establishing maritime passenger transport in areas where this has not been possible so far.
At the same time, the following criteria were considered:
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ecology, that is zero rates of harmful gas emission
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economic justification of passenger transport
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high intensity daily passenger transport
Project goals:
- Verification of research and development results by making and testing a "solarCat" prototype
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Introducing a new product to the market by selling "solarcat" boats
Through research and development within iCat d.o.o. on the project "iCat", which was carried out in cooperation with the Končar Institute, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University in Zagreb and the City of Šibenik, and was based on the possibility of using electricity to power high-speed ships, high-intensity navigation and small operating costs resulted in the solarCat project.
"SolarCat" is a catamaran for the transport of passengers with a capacity of up to 60 people, which relies exclusively on electricity to power the vessel.
The ship has the ability to recharge the battery bank from the land network, but the main source of electricity is an integrated solar power plant on the roof of the ship with a capacity of 7.4 kW. The power produced from the solar power plant allows the ship up to 10 hours of daily sailing autonomy with a cruising speed of 5 knots, which is applicable for insolation on the Adriatic.
Within the project, therefore, a prototype will be made that will be tested in real conditions, presented to potential buyers on the Adriatic, while on a global level it will be presented through fairs and promotional material. In this way, iCat d.o.o. will start the production of passenger ships that will enable the establishment of shipping lines within protected areas of navigation without emissions of harmful gases.