Erne Water Taxi

Erne WaterTaxi is based in Enniskillen Co. Fermanaghand offers luxury guided boat trips of Lough Erne, Enniskillen and Devenish Island.In 2015, owner Barry Flanagandecided to invest in a fully-electric boat,partly powered by solarpanels attachedto the roof.

What prompted you to takethebold step of going electric?

“It wasquite simple really. We wantedto reduce our emissions andalsoreduce our fuel costs.Both thingswere very importantto us. The reason I set upthe businesswasthat I wantedto bring people to moreremote partsof the lake islandsmiles awayfrom Enniskillen. My own love of the lough grew from spending time on the water myself and then later teaching others on sailboats, canoes, kayaks,paddleboards,windsurfingboards.I alwaysfoundthat slowway of travelling to be the nicest waytotravel makingyour own power, with justthe soundof the windandthe wateraroundyou. It madea lot of sense tome to finda moresustainablewaybecause that’show people travelled forhundreds of years, long before petrol-driven engines came about at all.”

BarryFlanagan, ErneWaterTaxis