WhisperPower Brief

WhisperPower Luxury Yacht Charter & Superyacht News

J-Class Yacht RAINBOW by Holland Jachtbouw Finalist for 2013 World Superyacht Award

February 04, 2013

The respected Dutch builder, Holland Jachtbouw, is pleased to report that its magnificent 40-metre sailing yacht Rainbow has been announced as a finalist in the World Superyacht Awards 2013. J-Class yacht Rainbow will be judged by a select group of panelists, all owners of superyachts, and the results will be revealed on May 4th in Istanbul, Turkey.

40 m J-Class superyacht Rainbow by Holland Jachtbouw

40 m J-Class superyacht Rainbow by Holland Jachtbouw - Image courtesy of Holland Jachtbouw

Superyacht Rainbow represents a replica of the famous J designed by William Starling Burgess which was commissioned by Harold Vanderbuilt to defend the America’s Cup in 1934, which she won against charter yacht Endeavour.

Rainbow Yacht competing under number JH-2

Rainbow Yacht competing under number JH-2 Image courtesy of Holland Jachtbouw

Dykstra & Partners were asked to re-design Rainbow superyacht closely following the original plans but as an aluminium yacht with a carbon mast, boom and rigging and a luxurious interior by deVosdeVries. She was built to Lloyds Register and MCA classification so that the owner could use her for racing and chartering.

Luxury yacht Rainbow - Dining

Luxury yacht Rainbow - Dining Image courtesy of Holland Jachtbouw

Hidden beneath her classic looks is some of the most cutting-edge technology seen on a super yacht today. Her hybrid power and propulsion system, developed by HJB in conjuction with Whisper Power, gives her the ability to generate a huge amount of power under batteries alone, enabling her to cruise silently and race for a day without running a generator.

40 m sailing yacht Rainbow - Cabin

40 m sailing yacht Rainbow - Cabin Image courtesy of Holland Jachtbouw

Sailing under the number JH-2, Rainbow competed against sailing yacht Velsheda, charter yacht Ranger and superyacht Lionheart only four months after her launch in the J-Class regattas this summer in Falmouth and the Solent, resulting in some very spectacular and close racing.

Technical Specifications of the 40 m J-Class sailing yacht Rainbow:

Redesign Dykstra Naval Architects
Interior Design Dykstra Naval Architects/Co.designer deVosdeVries
Loa 40.00 m
Lwl 27.10 m
Beam 6.37 m
Draft 4.80 m
Displacement +/- 175 tons
Year of Launching 2012

Below is a choice of the gorgeous charter yachts built by Holland Jachtbouw.

Holland Jachtbouw Charter Yacht Images

Holland Jachtbouw Motor Yacht Calliope - Photo credit to Nicolas Claris
Holland Jachtbouw Motor Yacht Calliope ...
Bridge deck aft Calliope Yacht
Bridge deck aft Calliope Yacht
Guest Cabin on the motor yacht Calliope
Guest Cabin on the motor yacht Calliope
Spiral Staircase Calliope Motoryacht
Spiral Staircase Calliope Motoryacht
Calliope Yacht - Guests Lobby
Calliope Yacht - Guests Lobby
Calliope Yacht Bridge Deck - Photo Nicolas Claris
Calliope Yacht Bridge Deck - Photo ...
More: Holland Jachtbouw Image Gallery

New Hybrid propulsion system by WhisperPower USA introduced at the 2012 FLIBS

October 26, 2012

WhisperPower USA are to unveil their new hybrid propulsion and power systems for megayachts to the North American market at the 2012 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. The new green technology of the hybrid propulsion and power systems reduces emissions, noise and fuel usage. The WhisperPower Hybrid Power System has been under development and testing for more than two years. One system is in operation aboard a new 40m J-class sailing yacht Rainbow, built by Holland Jachtbouw and two others are being installed on large sailing yachts in the Netherlands.

New Hybrid propulsion system by WhisperPower USA introduced at the 2012 FLIBS

New Hybrid propulsion system by WhisperPower USA introduced at the 2012 FLIBS

The Hybrid Power System is based on WhisperPower’s variable-speed Genverter technology, which consists of an intelligent permanent magnet alternator with an ultra-compact diesel engine fitted inside a sound shield. The Genverter feeds a DC-power bus connected to the propulsion systems and the DC-AC power conversion system for the hotel load. The system also includes deep-cycle long-life Lithium-Ion batteries, a DC-power distribution system, an efficient DC-AC inverter, high-efficiency electric drive motors for the propeller shaft and an overall power management system.

Installation options are parallel hybrid or serial hybrid drive. The parallel hybrid system maintains the mechanical connection between the engine and propeller shaft, with the electric motor acting on the drive shaft in parallel with the engine. You can drive the propeller directly from the engine or from the electric motor, or from both. You can also disconnect the propeller for a stand-alone generator function. The engine is disconnected during regeneration. In a serial hybrid system, the conventional diesel engine is replaced by an electric motor. A battery bank is connected to the common electric power bus, which is connected to the motor. The electrical energy is either provided by the variable speed Genverter or by the battery bank. With large batteries, you can have long periods of electric propulsion and running electrical appliances without resorting to the generator.

The batteries are charged from the Genverter power pack or shore power. They can also be recharged during sailing by the shaft generator.

“The design goal was to create a sophisticated power management system that can provide silent electric propulsion for an hour or more and manage the ship’s house loads for extended periods of time strictly on battery power,” said Rudolf Mes, general manager of WhisperPower USA. “Our Genverter-based system reduces emissions and audible noise inside and outside the vessel and reduces fuel consumption by up to 30 percent by running the ship’s propulsion from the batteries during periods of low energy consumption, such as nighttime.”

In addition to the Hybrid Power System, WhisperPower USA will show a full range of power generation and management solutions at the Fort Lauderdale Show.

“With WhisperPower’s wide selection of generators, chargers and electrical management products, we can supply complete integrated electrical systems for recreational and commercial vessels of all sizes,” Mes said. “We also stock a complete inventory of WhisperPower replacement parts and consumables for all Mastervolt generators currently in the market.”

WhisperPower USA is showing in Booth 1236 at the Fort Lauderdale Show.

Vripack Solar Team to race in the 2012 Frisian Solar Challenge

May 30, 2012

Running from July 8 to 14, the Frisian Solar Challenge is the biggest sustainable event of the Netherlands. The event concentrates on the design as well as building of ultra-light and fast solar boats which are strong enough to face the hardship of a long-distance race (220 KM) along the 11 popular Frisian cities. The expectations of the Vripack Solar Team competing in this famous race are enormous.

Vripack Solar Boat

Vripack Solar Boat

After the successful outcome of the previous edition, the Vripack Solar Team is now even more focused on a victory in the A classification. Joost Mertens, captain of the Vripack Solar Team, elaborates; “In 2010 we finished second with our boat ‘Sunny Side Up II’. Back then, we were mainly focused on the design and techniques of the boat. This year these factors obviously play a major role as well, but now we have paid much more attention to the technical development and improvement. That is why we believe that our solar boat is going to be one of the contenders again”.

The Vripack Solar Team is working on the development of improved techniques together with its sponsor ‘Whisper Power’. “The technical innovation, which emerge from occasional meetings between the two teams, ensure that the new solar boat will sail much faster than its predecessor”, says Mertens.

An example of the aforementioned  innovation is the professionally designed propulsion system. This system is driven by a permanent magnet motor. The energy for the motor comes from a battery which is powered by four solar panels. Various gears make it possible to reach higher speeds. The gears in combination with the by Marin optimized and developed screw design give the solar boat a maximum speed of 24 knots.

However, the solar team has not limited its endeavors to technical innovations. The design of the hull has also had their full attention. Vripack’s naval architects and designers have comprehensively studied the performance of different hull models. Various line plans have been tested on scale by a self-built drag machine in the waters of Vripack’s port which has resulted in a fully improved hull design. The hull is currently being built by Epomat, where they apply new techniques making the new solar boat significantly lighter.

The Vripack Solar Team has caught up tactically and strategically as well. Because of a specially designed communication system between the solar boat and the shore it is now possible for the captain to constantly stay informed of the latest developments. Due to this system our captain knows exactly what his opponents do and, not quite unimportant, how to use the power of the solar boat as strategically as possible. The Solar Team consists out of 20 Vripack  and 10 Whisper Power employees.

Main Characteristics of the Vripack Solar Boat

LOA    : 6 meters
BOA    : 1.65 meters
Draft    : 0.11  meters
Material Hull    : glass / epoxy
Electric    : Whisper Power
Classification    : A-class
Designer    : Vripack Solar Team
Naval Architect    : Vripack Solar Team
Engineer    : Vripack Solar Team
Builder    : Epomat
Hull    : Epomat
Screw design    : Marin
Sponsor    : Whisper Power

New power system concept for Royal Huisman´s Superyachts over 40m

April 03, 2012

WhisperPower BV, the Dutch designer as well as manufacturer of smart power solutions, is getting ready for the supply of a 100 kW power generation system, consisting of two GENVERTER 50 kW variable speed generators, which will be installed in sailing yachts over 40 metres, built by the renowned Dutch shipyard Royal Huisman. Futhermore, a 50 kW integrated flywheel generator, also known as a shaft generator, will be supplied as an additional power source.

GENVERTER system by WhisperPower

GENVERTER system by WhisperPower

The WhisperPower systems are connected to a Lithium ION LiFePo4 battery, large enough to provide electrical power to the various on-board consumers during “silent time”, i.e. during the night. The GENVERTER generators can be put on a high or low energy mode, and will be switched off during “battery silent time”. High Power sine wave inverters take over the on-board AC power provision automatically. The battery bank can also be charged by the integrated flywheel generator during navigation.

Among the key benefits of this innovative power solution are a dramatic reduction of the ecological footprint, a substantial reduction in the fuel required to generate the hotel load, and a similar reduction in the maintenance costs for the power plant in hotel load. Redundancy is provided by dividing the power sources into four:

- two variable speed GENVERTER generators of 50 kW each, which can operate in parallel

- one integrated flywheel generator

- one Lithium battery

In addition, the GENVERTER generators are about 50% smaller compared with traditional generators and are extremely silent. Delivery of the GENVERTERS and integrated flywheel generator is planned for late 2012.

Holland Jachtbouw 40m superyacht Rainbow – the first full hybrid pleasure sailing yacht

March 14, 2012

Prominent Dutch shipyard, Holland Jachtbouw has recently launched the 40m J-class sailing yacht Rainbow at its yard in the Netherlands. Based upon the lines of the original America’s Cup winner in 1934, the beautiful Rainbow superyacht features the unique WhisperPower hybrid propulsion as well as power system. She is currently being stepped and sea trials will start this month as she gears up to participate at this summer’s regattas, including the J-class races in England.

40m superyacht Rainbow

40m superyacht Rainbow

In close cooperation with Holland Jachtbouw technical director Arjen Zijlmans, a state-of-the-art Hybrid Power and Propulsion system was developed by Dutch power system’s specialist WhisperPower BV, making the 40m luxury yacht Rainbow the first FULL HYBRID pleasure sailing yacht of her kind. “I am proud to be  the first super yacht builder launching a full hybrid propulsion and auxiliary power system, which is really engineered as total system and not a combination of components supplied by various companies. The cooperation with WhisperPower and it’s subcontractors really worked out well”, says Arjen Zijlmans.

This hybrid solution replaces the conventional main engine and two generator configuration found on other Js, which have a larger engine room than the comparatively lighter Rainbow (170 tonnes). The main engine replaces the second generator, while the remaining generator is a variable speed unit. The main engine generator can also act as an electric motor that can also run the propeller. This solution is smaller in size and saves on fuel. The batteries can also be charged while sailing without losing more than 1.5 knots of speed.

Holland Jachtbouw superyacht Rainbow can be operated entirely on her Hy-Store Li-ion batteries, including sailing, navigation and hotel load. This also meets the owner’s request for silent periods onboard, without generators running, from 11 pm to 7 am. And that in turn promises much for those who enjoy cruising and, potentially, chartering Rainbow.

Other key overall benefits of this innovative propulsion solution include a dramatic reduction of the ecological footprint, a 30 percent reduction in the fuel required to generate the hotel load, and a similar reduction in the maintenance costs for the power plant in hotel load. Redundancy is built-in with five power sources available: The hybrid battery, the variable speed generator, the variable speed engine generator, the shaft generator (when sailing) and shore power (when available). There is also a substantial reduction in audible noise levels both inside the yacht and out.

“The Hybrid system we jointly designed with HJB, is in compliance with the highest industrial standards and Lloyds approved”, says Martijn Favot, CTO of WhisperPower and leader of the Hybrid project.

“Together with a team of high end specialist we worked 2 years to complete the components of the system. The Permanent Magnet alternators and other system components have been in-house designed and outsourced to leading Dutch and German co-makers”, according to Favot.

Main features of the WhisperPower Hybrid system:

Electric propulsion during some hours (50 kW, > 5 knots)

Sail management and other hydraulic functions like maneuvering operate via inverter on the Hy – Store batteries (Lithium ION LiFePO4). Generator is switched off during sailing. Capacity: 2 x 40 kW/ 512 VDC nominal.

The batteries are recharged during sailing (12 kW max), utilizing the 50 kW permanent magnet flywheel integrated electrical alternator/ electrical motor, which is connected to the shaft and CPP propeller.

A new way of power generation is offered by the 50 kW GENVERTER, a variable speed ultra compact and light weight diesel generator (cont. power 50 kW/ 1200-3600 rpm/ fly wheel integrated AC alternator, based on Steyr 4 Cyl engine). Being extremely quiet and fuel efficient, the GENVERTER switches off when the batteries are re-charged, the DC to AC inverter will take over the power supply automatically.

Extended periods of silent AC power (3 x 400 VAC)/ 230 V/50 Hz) is offered by the DC to AC inverter, connected to the Li ION batteries.

HY- Shore: the Rainbow yacht’s electrical system can be plugged into any shore power connection in the world, disregarding the frequency (50 / 60 Hz) as the system has a build-in frequency converter. Galvanic isolation is taken care of by the integrated isolation transformer.

WhisperPower products at METS 2011

November 10, 2011

At METS 2011 WhisperPower will show why the Dutch company has such a strong reputation as a supplier of total solutions in the field of (hybrid) power technologies. Four new power systems will be presented, varying from a small solution for yachts longer than eight metres to sophisticated systems for yachts up to 25 metres with a wide range of power consumers onboard. Moreover, following years of development, WhisperPower will introduce its first complete hybrid propulsion system for yachts from 20 to 40 metres, which includes the new super compact 50 kW Genverter.

WhisperPower genverter system

WhisperPower genverter system

METS will be the launch pad for the new Orange Label products for recreational applications, including battery chargers and chargers/inverters. These products are small, lightweight, and easy to operate and install at an affordable price.

Four new power systems introduced at METS (stand nr. 9.521):

The Basic Comfort system is the smallest system. It consists of a 3.5 kW Whisper Power Centre sine wave inverter/battery charger, a remote control panel with energy monitor, shore connection with isolation transformer (optional) and a set of long-life GEL power batteries.

The Advanced System consists of the GENVERTER 7 i, a variable speed generator that supplies 24 V to the onboard batteries and/or 230 VAC power via the WPC (Whisper Power Centre) inverter/battery charger, Power System Control Panel with built-in battery monitor and a set of GEL batteries. It can feed the complete DC and AC board system. Total 230 VAC power rating  is 7 kW, sufficient for electric cooking, air conditioning, a washing machine or dishwasher and other 230 V devices. ‘Silent power’ is supplied by the highly reliable and efficient sine wave inverter (3.5 kW) that can also serve as a booster in case of limited shore power availability. The three-stage battery charger supplies a charge current up to 90 A. The system enables complete plug & play installation, with the application of variable speed permanent magnet technology providing considerable savings in fuel consumption. Also available for 12 VDC and 48 VDC batteries.

The Admiral System was developed for yachts and small professional vessels longer than 12 metres. Its total capacity is 9.5 kW with sufficient peak power to start inductive loads. It is based on the super silent WhisperPower SQ 6, 1500 rpm generator, of which the AC output is connected directly to the WhisperPower Centre. Additionally, the Whisper Power Centre has a shore connection, with the option of an isolation transformer. The Power System Control Panel (PSCP) controls both the Whisper generator and the 3.5 kW Whisper Power Centre inverter/battery charger. A shortage of shore power can be compensated by the Whisper Power Centre via the batteries. The system is equipped with WhisperPower High Density deep cycle AGM batteries for 700 full cycles.

The Royal System offers the perfect solution for yachts and professional vessels longer than 16 metres. It is based on the WhisperPower SQ 12 (12 kW) basic generator, linked to two parallel connected Whisper Power Centres of 3.5 kW. The total system capacity is nearly 20 kW, while the ‘Silent power’ is 7 kW and the charge capacity 180 A. The system can also be three-staged (3×400 VAC) with three Power Centres. Royal Systems are supplied with 2- VOLT GEL power traction batteries.

Hybrid systems go live

The hybrid systems for vessels from 20 to 40 metres, the subject of extensive R&D at WhisperPower since 2009, are now market ready. At METS the company will exhibit a complete system consisting of a 450 hp propulsion engine including an integrated permanent magnet flywheel generator with a 50 kW capacity that also serves as electric propulsion when sailing ‘silently’ on the battery.

Another WhisperPower premiere is the GENVERTER 50 kW: A highly compact and lightweight hybrid generator system (1.2m x 86cm x 86cm; weight approximately 400kg), which consists of a powerful turbo diesel and a permanent magnet generator. The system is based on a so-called Hi DC bus system with Li-Ion long-life batteries that supply power for electric sailing and onboard loads. A DC/AC inverter takes care of the three phase onboard power system with capacities from 30 to 100 kW. The GENVERTER 50 kW is Lloyds certified, as is the entire hybrid system.

The new label for recreational sailing

WhisperPower is also launching a new concept with its ORANGE label, given to equipment developed specifically for recreational applications: Small, lightweight, easy to operate and at an affordable price. The new label includes, among other things, a new range of switch mode battery chargers, the HANDY range. These fully automatic five-stage chargers can be applied universally as chargers for GEL, AGM or open-lead acid l batteries. Available models range from 7 Ampere to 50 Ampere for 12 VDC.

WhisperPower is also presenting two sine wave inverter/battery chargers under the ORANGE label with the following capacities: 12 V / 2000 W/ 80 A, 24 V/ 3000 W/60 A, and 48 V/4000 W, 40 A.

Introducing WP Logic

A global premier is the partnership between WhisperPower and E-T-A, a market leader in the field of electrical components for vehicles, vessels and the industry. This German company has developed a digital power system based on CAN Bus technology for the intelligent distribution of mobile and maritime power systems. WhisperPower is presenting the system to the global market as WP Logic. The digital modules for DC and AC with eight double-pole or 16 single-pole in and outputs will also be presented at METS. The maximum power per I/O is 30 Ampere.

Finally, Whisper Power will also exhibit its standard fixed rpm generators of 1500 and 3000 rpm and the Genverter 4 Basic variable speed model.

Beschier Kik joins WhisperPower board

March 01, 2011

Beschier Kik (53) recently joined the board of WhisperPower BV. In his role as Commercial Director, Kik will help the company develop into a global player in the field of power and propulsion systems in close cooperation with general director/owner Roel ter Heide.

Beschier Kik joins WhisperPower board

Beschier Kik joins WhisperPower board

Roel ter Heide is the founder and former director/owner of Mastervolt, a renowned diesel generator and power system company. Established in July 2007, WhisperPower has since mid-2010 been serving the maritime market with an extensive range of advanced power systems previously sold via the Mastervolt network.

WhisperPower’s sister company Hybrid Power Systems BV was established in 2010. It focuses on the development and production of hybrid systems for vessels and vehicles which are sold globally via WhisperPower’s commercial network. The WhisperPower Group has fifty employees in the Benelux region, the UK, Spain, Germany, Australia and China, and its products are sold in over fifty countries.

Beschier Kik is a well-known name in the maritime world. After a technical and managing career at Bolnes Diesel Motoren and Yanmar Europe, Kik held various positions at Vetus NV before becoming CEO in 2000. After leaving Vetus in 2008, Kik spent the past two years as a key consultant at various companies in the Netherlands and abroad in the field of commerce and management.

“I have known Roel ter Heide as an industry colleague for some twenty years and we have always had a good relationship,” Kik comments. “As we are both full of ideas and have a strong drive, it seemed natural to approach the further expansion of WhisperPower together. It is a very interesting challenge as WhisperPower’s field of activity is very familiar to me and its ‘mechatronics’ product range, including diesel engines, is state of the art.”

WhisperPower introduces hybrid propulsion systems at Boot Dusseldorf

December 12, 2010

WhisperPower will introduce a complete range of hybrid propulsion systems from 5 to 250 kW at the Düsseldorf Boat Show, Stand 10F17.

The hybrid propulsion system is based on a high efficiency permanent DC magnet motor that powers the propeller, and a variable rpm generator with one, three, five or six cylinders (depending on the capacity) which generates electric power and charges the batteries.

The Li-ion batteries then provide the energy supply for the propulsion, hydraulics and/or other power consumers onboard, with or without the use of an inverter. The batteries can also be charged via shore power or, when using the sails, via a shaft generator.

The systems are equipped with intelligent integrated management technology. This starts the generator automatically and increases rpm when power demands increase, and slows down the rpm or switches off the generator when the power demand is reduced.

J-Class Sailing Yachts ‘Rainbow’ and WhisperPower hybrid propulsion system - Credit Whisper Power

J-Class Sailing Yachts ‘Rainbow’ and WhisperPower hybrid propulsion system - Credit Whisper Power

WhisperPower was recently commissioned to develop the complete hybrid power and propulsion systems for the two J Class yachts Yankee and Rainbow currently under construction at Holland Jachtbouw.

In addition to the hybrid propulsion systems WhisperPower will display 3000 rpm and 1500 rpm Whisper generators, variable speed units, maintenance-free, completely enclosed AGM, GEL and ION power batteries and numerous practical system accessories.

WhisperPower has been designing and manufacturing its renowned compact, water-cooled diesel generators in 3000 and 1500 rpm versions and from 3 to 30 kVA since 1998.

WhisperPower is a young, ambitious industrial firm in Drachten, the Netherlands. It is located in a new, modern 5,500 m² eco premises that is equipped with climate control based on an advanced eco-energy recovery system. Some 40 full-time employees are responsible for design, assembly and logistics. “WhisperPower’s mission is to enhance the energy generating industry by offering cleaner, quieter and more efficient systems,” says owner Roel Ter Heide.

WhisperPower to supply Yacht Yankee and Rainbow Yacht with Hybrid Propulsion System

October 15, 2010

Dutch power systems specialist WhisperPower has gained two orders for the supply of the entire hybrid power and propulsion systems for two J-class yachts currently under construction at Holland Jachtbouw in Zaandam, the Netherlands. The systems will be delivered mid 2011 to the 39.5 meter long Sailing Yacht RAINBOW and the recently ordered Sailing Yacht YANKEE, which have been redesigned by Dykstra & Partners Naval Architects.

Sailing Yacht Rainbow Image credit to Dykstra

Constructed to Lloyds and MCA, both vessels will be ready in time for the J-Class regatta events to coincide with the London 2012 Olympic Games and will be used for both racing and chartering.

Sailing Yacht Yankee - Image credit to Dykstra

The sailing yacht Yankee and SY Rainbow will be fitted with a unique WhisperPower Hybrid propulsion system allowing them to navigate at up to 5 knots and manoeuvre entirely without emissions using 2 x 288 VDC/160Ah Lithium Ion batteries (LiFeYP04). During sailing no generators are needed to control the sails as all hydraulics are powered by the same battery banks. Most of the time the on board 230/400 VAC consumers, including the air conditioning, will operate through a 35 kVA inverter via the batteries. A 50 kVA variable speed generator from WhisperPower will be installed to recharge the batteries and provide electrical power to the various loads. An auxiliary diesel engine of 294 kW is planned with a 50 kW flywheel-integrated electrical motor for electric propulsion and will double as a shaft generator when the yacht is under way, generating a maximum power of 10 kW. The systems are designed in close collaboration with Holland Jachtbouw and leading technical companies in the Netherlands.

WhisperPower to enter the marine market directly starting July 2010

May 28, 2010

The renowned Whisper range of marine generator systems and accessories, previously manufactured by WhisperPower for Mastervolt, will be sold directly by WhisperPower through its own network of dealers, distributors and agents from July 2010.

This announcement is part of a new long-term cooperative agreement between WhisperPower and Mastervolt. The agreement will also see WhisperPower manufacture the jointly developed GPX 5 kW variable speed hybrid generator system. Mastervolt will have exclusive rights to distribute the GPX worldwide in the marine sector, while WhisperPower will sell this innovative product directly to the mobile and off grid remote markets.

Roel J. ter Heide owner of WhisperPower

This new supply agreement between WhisperPower and Mastervolt, both located in the Netherlands, was made at the same time as Mastervolt’s co-founder and main shareholder Roel ter Heide agreed to sell all his shares in Mastervolt to the company. Although Ter Heide stepped down as managing director of Mastervolt in 2007 and started WhisperPower, he had remained a Mastervolt shareholder until now.

WhisperPower in Drachten

“The additional positioning of WhisperPower as a ‘marine’ company will strengthen its base and stimulate expansion in a broader market,” says Ter Heide. “We had already succeeded in gaining a substantial market share in global mobile and off grid/remote markets with the current WhisperPower product ranges. With our new Variable Speed hybrid power systems we are even better placed to become a leading player in these markets, offering added value by integrating power electronics and power storage as part of the entire system.”

WhisperPower is located in the northern Dutch province of Friesland, where it has a state-of-the-art premises in Drachten for development, assembly and logistics. Employing 40 FTEs, the company’s sales revenue since its formation in July 2007 amount to 14 million euro.

“WhisperPower’s mission is to change the world of power generation by developing quieter, cleaner and more energy efficient systems,” concludes Ter Heide. “We have made substantial funds available in order to achieve this ambitious goal.”

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