Set along the tranquil backwaters of Vembanad, Vaikom is poised to become the nation’s first energy-neutral boat station by fully transitioning to solar-powered boat services and operations.
On February 20, Transport Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar will flag off the shift by inaugurating three new solar-powered boats that will replace the remaining diesel vessels in service. At the same time, the Agency for Non-Conventional Energy and Rural Technology (ANERT), the State government’s nodal agency for renewable energy promotion, will launch parallel works to convert the station’s entire operations to solar power.
The journey towards this milestone began in 2017, when the State Water Transport Department (SWTD) introduced Aditya, Kerala’s first solar-powered passenger boat, from Vaikom. With the induction of the new vessels, every scheduled service from the jetty will run without fossil fuels, cutting operating costs while slashing carbon emissions, water pollution, and noise.
The cost of building a single solar-powered boat, equipped with an 80 kWh battery, is ₹3.15 crore. Operating at an average speed of 10.8 km per hour, the boats can cover the route from Vaikom to Thavanakadavu in just 15 minutes, five minutes faster than conventional diesel boats. Each boat can accommodate up to 75 passengers.
