ABB has announced a partnership with the Solar Impulse team to support their attempt to fly around the world in a solar powered airplane next year.
The original Solar Impulse made some remarkable achievements; including a journey across the USA last year and the world’s first fully solar-powered intercontinental flight of more than 6,000 km from Switzerland to Morocco in 2012. However, that craft was deemed unsuitable for the rigours of the round-the-world challenge.
Solar Impulse 2, the plane that will complete the journey, will be unveiled this week. With a wingspan of 72 metres, Solar Impulse 2 incorporates 17,000 solar cells and weighs 2.3 tonnes – substantially heavier than its predecessor.
Among its new features, the more spacious cockpit of Solar Impulse 2 will allow its pilot to fully recline during flights lasting from 4 to 6 days. In addition to having better payload capabilities, improvements to electrical circuitry will enable flights in rain.
Bertrand Piccard, initiator and chairman of Solar Impulse, says it was a “personal dream” of his to have ABB as a technology partner.
ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer said the company believes in Mr. Piccard’s vision of the world of exploration and innovation contributing to the cause of renewable energies.
“This partnership brings together two Swiss-based global leaders that are passionate about pushing the boundaries of technology and innovation to achieve a better world.”
ABB is the world’s second largest supplier of solar inverters via its subsidiary Power-One. ABB completed its acquisition of the company in July last year. Power-One products will transition to ABB branding from next month.
ABB is also the company behind a breakthrough innovation in the form of a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) circuit breaker; a component key to the increased uptake of HVDC transmission, which allows for bulk power transmission over long distances with minimum losses.
