Green Innovation on the Water: The Solar-Powered Tourist Catamaran
About this good practice
Problem Addressed and Context:
The Municipality of Burgas recognised the need for sustainable and eco-friendly tourism solutions to remain competitive as a summer destination. With increasing concerns over carbon emissions from conventional marine transport, the city initiated the development of a solar-powered tourist catamaran to promote green mobility and environmentally conscious tourism.
Implementation and Objectives:
The ‘Burgus’ catamaran was developed to boost Burgas’s cultural and marine tourism by providing low-emission, innovative transport to popular local attractions. It features a hybrid propulsion system that combines photovoltaic solar panels with a marine diesel generator, helping reduce emissions and ensuring energy independence for key onboard systems. A solar array covers around 20–25% of the vessel’s total energy needs. In 2021, a solar system with a peak capacity of 4.4 kWp was installed on various parts of the navigation bridge, supplying reliable backup power and significantly cutting fuel consumption and environmental impact.
Stakeholders and Beneficiaries:
The project involves the Municipality of Burgas, EU and national funding bodies, local tourism businesses, and shipbuilders. Direct beneficiaries include residents, tourists, and event organisers, who use ‘Burgus’ for leisure trips, team buildings, and cultural tours—positioning Burgas as a leader in sustainable coastal tourism.
Resources needed
Financial Resources: Total investment: €850,000, provided through the project “The Power of Water”, co-financed by the Operational Programme “Regions in Growth 2014–2020”.
Human Resources: Involvement of a multidisciplinary municipal team and marine engineers.
Evidence of success
The solar system meets up to 25% of the vessel’s energy needs and has generated 9 MWh over three years, covering 80% of key systems. This has saved around 2,250 litres of diesel and cut CO₂ emissions. The catamaran has become a popular attraction, enhancing Burgas’s reputation as a green destination. Its strong performance has led to growing interest in expanding the solar array for increased efficiency and capacity.
Potential for learning or transfer
The hybrid design and implementation strategy of ‘Burgus’ can serve as a replicable model for other coastal cities aiming to reduce maritime emissions and develop sustainable tourism. The modular solar system allows scalability and adaptation to various vessel sizes. Municipalities with similar geographic and touristic profiles could benefit from adopting such practices.
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