Solar panel manufacturer SunPower Corp. has announced its solar cells will be used by PlanetSolar’s new solar catamaran.
Currently under construction, the motorised vessel is expected to be the largest of its kind and will be powered exclusively by SunPower’s high-efficiency solar cells.
PlanetSolar is being built by Knierim Yacht Club, in Kiel, Germany. Construction of the solar powered catamaran is expected to be completed in February 2010 and PlanetSolar will then initially be sailing on the Baltic to conduct a series of tests in real-life conditions. Departure for the world tour from a Mediterranean port will occur in April 2011 and the journey is expected to comprise of around 140 days of navigation.
The catamaran will be home to two sailors during the round-the-world attempt, and can accommodate up to fifty people during the promotional trips planned at each port of call.
Approximately 38,000 of SunPower’s solar cells will be included in the skin of the catamaran, with each cell offering a sunlight conversion efficiency of approximately 22 percent. The cells aren’t a special type being developed specifically for the vessel, but the same kind Sunpower provides for home solar power applications.
PlanetSolar will be the first such craft to embark on a round-the-world voyage. The goal is to navigate around the world at an average speed of 8 knots – no mean feat for a solar-powered craft. It is expected to be the fastest solar boat to cross the Atlantic Ocean and the first to cross both the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The vessel will viewable by the public during each of its stops and educational opportunities relating to renewable energy and sustainability will be on offer to those who visit.
