Solar boat set to navigate the globe
Posted on March 03rd 2010
The solar powered PlanetSolar was unveiled last week as the largest boat of its kind, using only the power of the sun to power its engines. The German made vessel is set to circumnavigate the world in a bid to promote solar energy across the globe.
The 100ft boat is powered by 38,000 solar cells each converting energy at the highest possible rate, with their lowest rate of 22% being the best yet from any solar panels. The vessel cost $24 million and will travel 24,850 miles around the equator in order to obtain the best solar output from the cells, giving the vessel a top speed of 15 knots.
The voyage is set to begin in earl April and will take roughly 61 days to complete should all go well and the weather prevail.
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