MS Turanor PlanetSolar: World’s largest solar-powered boat.
The PlanetSolar is a solar-powered vessel built by Knierim Yachtbau, in Kiel, Germany for Switzerland-based PlanetSolar. It is the biggest solar boat ever built. The solar powered craft is topped by a large array of photovoltaic panels. The boat is designed to circumnavigate the world. It became the first multi-hull vessel to sail around the world using solar energy.
In 2012, ‘planetsolar‘, the fully solar-powered catamaran designed by new zealander craig loomes, took a trip around the world energized exclusively by rays from the sun. A distance of more than 50,000km/31000miles was covered in 160 days at an average speed of 8kt. The boat sailed from Marseilles and crossed the Atlantic Ocean, the Panama Canal, the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Suez Canal to join the Mediterranean. PlanetSolar was christened and launched in March 2010. The solar boat made its first voyage off Kiel in April 2010. It was stationed in the waters of the Baltic Sea to complete a test phase during 2013. The test was conducted by the University of Geneva (UNIGE) from June 2013 to August 2013.
The 89,000 kg (nearly 100 ton) ship needs a massive solar array to capture enough energy to push itself through the ocean. Removable parts allow the vessel to supply a total of 512 square meters (roughly 5,500 square feet) of photovoltaic cells, to be exact, charge the 8.5 tons of lithium-ion batteries that are stored in the ship’s two hulls. In addition, engineers have effectively optimized the energy collection system and also the aerodynamics, with the propulsion and light carbon framework providing a durable structure that will endure the long transatlantic route. Equipped with an trawling filtering net/scoop, the boat also can collect up to 8 tons of marine pollution as it sails across the ocean. achieving average speeds of 5 knots ( 9.25 km/h), the 6 meter wide craft generates 127 horsepower (93.5 kW) from the plethora of installed solar panels– providing a maximum of 120kW.
