Horizon Yacht to Unveil Its First Solar-powered Cruiser

Taipei, Oct. 15, 2008 (CENS)--Helped by Germany's SolarWaterWorld with propulsion system technologies and hull design, Horizon Yacht Co., the largest boat-builder in Taiwan, will unveil its first solar-powered yacht next year, according to company sources.

Horizon specializes in building sizable yachts powered by diesel or gasoline engines measuring 70 to 128 feet. However, as green products become a growing trend worldwide, the firm has stepped up development of renewable energy engines for its yachts.

Horizon indicated that the solar-powered yacht has solar plates to store power in batteries to drive electric propulsion systems. Noteworthy is that the company has been working with SolarWaterWorld to adopt only four 1.28-square-meter, 750-watt solar panels as the major power supply to drive the yachts. Coupled with German-supplied technical support in fine-tuning hull design, the firm can build yachts with less water resistance.

Horizon Yacht has received orders from German clients for three 23-footer solar-powered yachts priced NT$2 million each, and has already begun trial production, with the orders to be filled early next year.

Compared with yachts powered by diesel and gasoline engines, which take 8 to 15 months to build, the solar-powered yachts take only around 15 days to complete, but come with thinner margins than the former. Therefore, Horizon plans to mass produce solar-powered yachts to enhance profitability, as well as promote such yachts in overseas and domestic markets.