Boat’s Voyage a Shining Example of Solar Potential

An international team of engineers, investors and designers created and launched a solar-powered vessel that circled the globe. The boat traveled close to the equator to maximize its exposure to the sun. “The Turanor uses energy harnessed from more than 500 [square meters] of solar panels to drive two, 60kW electric engines, each in turn driving a standard propeller,” reports Richard Anderson for BBC News. “They were at sea for 585 days as a result - somewhat longer than the record 45 days for sailing round the world.” The inaugural voyage required monitoring of weather conditions and careful planning on speed and position, and lithium ion batteries were on board to provide three days of power in the event of overcast skies. Other researchers will compete to fine tune the solar technology and set new records. In any case, the Turanor shows the potential of this alternate energy source for sea voyages. – YaleGlobal