WHISPER installs wind-solar container system and begins sea trials on container ship

Reykjavik, Iceland 28 August 2026 – The WHISPER project has reached a major full-scale demonstration milestone with the installation of SideWind’s containerised wind-energy system, topped with custom Solbian solar panels, in Aarhus Denmark. It was installed on board Helgafell, a Samskip container carrier.

The wind and solar hybrid power system is designed to reduce auxiliary engine emissions. Sea trials began immediately after installation, as the vessel sailed across the North Atlantic and arrived in Iceland on 24 August, providing the project partners with an opportunity to assess the integrated wind-solar system under real operating conditions.

The installation brings two renewable-energy technologies together in a modular format designed for retrofit applications. SideWind’s horizontal wind turbines are housed in modified shipping containers, while Solbian’s photovoltaic panels cover the container roofs. The arrangement is intended to make use of available deck space while limiting the modifications required on board.

For SideWind, the sea trials mark the transition from onshore development and testing to validation at sea: “This is the moment our team has been working towards: putting the complete SideWind system on board and testing it in the environment for which it was designed. The sea trials will give us valuable real-world data on operation, control, and performance, and help us take the next steps towards a scalable retrofit solution for commercial vessels,” said Óskar Svavarsson, CEO, SideWind.

“Installing the WHISPER system on a vessel in commercial service is an important step from technical development to operational learning. The sea trials, which will be conducted on 4 scheduled voyages over the next 3 months, will provide valuable insight into how modular wind- and solar-energy technologies can contribute to more sustainable day-to-day shipping while maintaining the safety, reliability and quality of service our customers and crews expect,” said Guðmundur Óskarsson, Director Logistics Department, Samskip.

The custom Solbian photovoltaic modules were designed to fit the SideWind container roofs and to perform in demanding marine conditions. During the trials, the solar installation will operate alongside the wind turbines as part of WHISPER’s wind-solar hybrid approach.

“Marine decarbonisation requires technologies that work together and can be integrated into existing vessels. By tailoring our solar modules to the SideWind containers, we are turning an available surface into a source of clean onboard power. These sea trials are an important opportunity to validate that integrated approach in real operating conditions,” said Luca Bonci, CEO, Solbian.

WHISPER project partners will share initial operational insights during SMM Hamburg in September 2026, see schedule of events here. The WHISPER consortium will continue collecting and analysing data through the sea-trial campaign before reporting validated project results.

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media@whisperenergy.eu

About the WHISPER project

The aim of the WHISPER project is to develop fully modular retrofit solutions for container ships and bulk carriers, to reduce GHG emissions from the long-distance maritime industry, utilizing three novel technologies. The project began on 1 January 2023 and runs until 31 December 2026.

The trials form part of WHISPER’s full-scale demonstration programme and earlier this month, installation was completed and sea trials commenced on another part of the project when OceanWings rigid wingsail installation aboard the Maria Topic, an Ant. Topic Ultramax bulk carrier, was completed alongside Solbian solar panels. The wingsails will provide wind-assisted propulsion to reduce main engine emissions.

Data and operational experience from the voyage will support the consortium’s evaluation of the system and inform the next phase of technical validation.

Another part of the WHISPER project are concept designs, developed by Stirling Design International, utilizing the technologies within the WHISPER project for future builds. See here a video on concepts for future builds.

The WHISPER consortium comprises of Verkís, SideWind, OceanWings, Solbian, CANOE, Ant. Topic, Dotcom, Samskip, Stirling Design International, BBA//Fjeldco, Lloyd’s Register, Athygli, and Inspiralia.

www.whisperenergy.eu

The project has received funding from the European Union‘s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under Grant Agreement N°101096577.

Lloyd’s Register is funded by UK Research and Innovation under project agreement No. 10065742.