Fleet & milestones
Topic Energies, the innovation and sustainability division of Topic Group, has announced the commercial availability of SEAOLAR, a maritime solar energy system designed and built specifically for bulk carrier operations.
Financial modelling based on an ultramax bulk carrier with a 250 kWp installation indicates fuel savings of approximately 92 tonnes per year under typical operating conditions, with a payback period of around four years when regulatory savings from EU ETS and FuelEU are included. At a fuel cost of 800 USD per tonne, that represents annual savings in excess of 97,000 USD per year.
Unlike solar solutions adapted from land-based or offshore photovoltaic technologies, SEAOLAR was developed from direct experience operating commercial bulk carriers. Every element of the system, panel design, mounting structure, installation process, and energy management, has been engineered for the conditions found on working ships: vibration, salt exposure, deck contamination, and the practical constraints of crew operations at sea.
The system has been proven in service on M/V Paolo Topic, the world’s first hybrid solar bulk carrier, where it has operated alongside a Wärtsilä hybrid and control system since 2019. The data from that deployment underpins the commercial proposition now being brought to market.
The system is designed for installation by a small crew during a regular port call, with no dry docking required. Panels are lightweight, can be handled by a single person, and are optimised for the deck geometry of bulk carriers to maximise available photovoltaic surface without compromising cargo operations.
Alex Albertini, CEO of Topic Group, said: ‘We did not set out to build a solar product. We set out to operate our vessels better. SEAOLAR is the result of that process, a system that works in the real world, on real ships, under real conditions. We built it for ourselves first. Now we are making it available to the wider fleet because we believe it represents a genuinely better option for bulk carrier operators who want to reduce costs and exposure without compromising reliability.’
Early market interest has been strongest among bulk carrier operators, a segment that aligns naturally with the system’s design assumptions and economic profile. Topic Energies is currently engaging with a number of operators across the segment.
Topic Energies is a division of Topic Group, the Monaco-based maritime business founded in 1926.
Notes to editors
ROI modelling assumptions: Ultramax bulk carrier.
Operating profile:
- 200 sailing days
- 60 port days
- 50 anchor days
- 30 port with cargo operations
- 20 manoeuvring days per year
System size: 250 kWp. Capital expenditure: approximately 400,000 EUR. Fuel cost basis: 800 USD per tonne. Regulatory savings based on EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime framework. Most realistic scenario based on simulation data: 92 tonnes fuel saved per year, payback 4.1 years including regulatory savings.
SEAOLAR panels are designed for palletised transport and optimised container loading, supporting fleet-scale deployment. Installation requires no dry docking and can be completed during a regular port call.