Ferry in India Shows: Solar Power for Boats DOES work!

It took three years for the solar-powered ferry Aditya, in operation in the Indian state of Kerala, to break even on operating and fuel costs. And it attracted international attention and earned an award.

“Within a very short span of time, the Aditya has turned out to be a replicable model in mitigating climate change,” says V.S. Vijayan, former chairman of the Kerala State Biodiversity Board. He noted that the ferry has also debunked the argument that solar initiatives are costlier than other power sources. “On the contrary, the solar ferry proves how it could be affordable for the common man.”

According to an internal impact study, the ferry virtually generates no polluting emissions and costs at least 30 times less to run than its diesel counterparts. The Kerala government intends to add two more solar ferries and a solar-powered boat cruise in use by the end of this year. And within the next five years, all 48 diesel ferries will be switched to solar.