The solar-powered catamaran project began far from home – in Rwanda. A local company approached us with the mission to design a vessel that could improve life around the African Great Lakes: Malawi, Victoria, Tanganyika, and Kivu.

Together, these four lakes cover​​ 133,000 km² and host more than 2,000 species. They provide livelihoods for millions of people. According to the African Great Lakes Initiative (AGLI), fishing is the primary source of income, employing more than 690,000 people and yielding over a billion fish each year. The lakes are also crucial for the transport of goods, access to services, and regional trade. 

But conditions on such vast lakes are unpredictable. Most local boats are fragile, poorly equipped, and unsuited for rough weather. Combined with weak communication infrastructure, this leads to tragic accidents. On lake Victoria alone, around 5,000 lives are lost each year. Our challenge was clear: design an affordable, reliable, and emission-free vessel that could withstand the lakes’ conditions and meet the needs of local communities.

The result is a six-meter solar-powered catamaran with a payload capacity of one ton. It cruises at 6-12 knots with a range of about 40 kilometres. The vessel is built from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), chosen for its exceptional strength-to-density ratio and ability to absorb impacts without damage. Structurally, it consist of two main parts: the hull and the roof, which carries the solar panels.

Power comes from a 6-10 kW brushless DC motor, driven by a 48 V 4000 W monocrystalline solar array connected to LiFePO4 batteries (48 V 100aH/ 200 A). Ten solar panels provide up to 4kW of energy, while the lithium “Powerwall”-type batteries, similar to those popularized by Tesla, store it efficiently.

At the heart of the system is AMAZIAPP, a smart energy and navigation interface displayed on a 10-inch screen. It manages solar input, battery storage, engine output, and power consumption, while also offering navigation, range prediction, speed optimization, and a “sail home” function. The app ensures safe, predictable journeys and makes the vessel both practical and user-friendly.