Ronja Superior. Photo: Sølvtrans

Lightbulb moment for Sølvtrans

Wellboat operator Sølvtrans expects to reduce its nitrogen oxide gas (NOx) emissions by 11 tonnes, simply by replacing the exterior lighting on the vessels in its fleet.

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Are Brautaset, head of electrical and automation systems at Sølvtrans.

Are Brautaset, head of electrical and automation systems at Sølvtrans, said the company is well on the way to exchanging all of the exterior lighting in the fleet from halogen lights to new LED systems.

"So far we've done five to six boats, so we're in the middle of the process," Brautaset said.

The move will provide good savings, financially and environmentally.

“By replacing the entire fleet's lights with LEDs, we calculate a NOx saving of 11 tonnes,” said Brautaset. “This will have an impact and have a big saving on the fuel consumption of the boats.”

He gives an example: “On one of our smaller boats we have 13 old-type floodlights. When they are on, they have a consumption of 17 kW / h. By installing new LED lights, only 2.5 kW / h is used. This is 14.5 kW spared every hour.

"By doing such an installation on the entire fleet, it gives significant savings in total fuel consumption.”

Sølvtrans has initiated several measures to be environmentally friendly.

“We have installed equipment on board that measures the energy consumption of the various operations,” explained Brautaset, pointing out that having a green profile is very important to the company.

"It's important to take care of the environment. We work in an industry that works with food and it is important to take care of the environment we operate in. We try to save where we can and constantly work to find new solutions," said Brautaset.