Hamburg’s Alster lakes in the middle of the city have been crossed by passenger boats for over 150 years. In 2000 the operator Alster-Touristik (ATG) added something new to its fleet: a futuristic, glass-roofed solar boat, originally named RA 82 after the Egyptian sun god and later known as the Alstersonne (“Alster sun”).
The 26.5 m catamaran was built from about 40 tonnes of stainless steel, yet it weighs only about half as much as a traditional 100-passenger steamer. It holds up to 100 passengers with tables, chairs and a small kitchen. When it entered service it was described as one of the largest solar boats in the world.
The roof is made of solar modules, which on their own can push the boat along at a gentle walking pace of about 5 km/h. For faster cruising, 80 rechargeable batteries store extra energy, enough for up to 12 hours or around 120–160 km. On the water it leaves no fuel or oil traces, and passengers hear the city instead of an engine.
Technical data
| Operator | Alster-Touristik GmbH (ATG), Hamburg |
|---|---|
| In service | 2000 |
| Hull | Stainless-steel catamaran, 26.5 m (~40 t of steel) |
| Passengers | Up to 100 |
| Solar | Solar-module roof, ~5 km/h on direct solar power |
| Batteries | 80 rechargeable batteries, up to 12 h / 120–160 km |
Photo: hh oldman / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Sources: Outokumpu: Quiet cruising by sun · Hamburg Tourism: Solarschiff