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Marine

World's largest solar-powered boat completes its trip around the world

By Ben Coxworth
May 04, 2012
World's largest solar-powered ...
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, passing through Tahiti earlier on its voyage
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, passing through Tahiti earlier on its voyage
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, passing through Tahiti earlier on its voyage
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, passing through Tahiti earlier on its voyage
Crew members on the deck of the TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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Crew members on the deck of the TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor this afternoon
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor this afternoon
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
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The TURANOR PlanetSolar, as it enters Monaco's Hercule Harbor
View gallery - 46 images

On September 27th of 2010, the world’s largest solar-powered boat – the TÛRANOR PlanetSolar – set out from Monaco on a quest to become the first boat to sail around the world using nothing put the power of the Sun. This afternoon it successfully completed that quest, arriving back in Monaco after 18 months spent circumnavigating the planet.

A crew of five piloted the 31-meter (102-ft) long, 15-meter (49-ft) wide vessel, which is covered in 537 square meters (5,780 sq ft) of solar panels. These provide power to four electric motors (two located in each hull), that have a maximum output of 120 kW and can propel the boat to a speed of 14 knots. It is constructed mainly of a light yet durable carbon fiber-sandwich material.

“For 8 years we have been working on achieving this world tour with solar energy,” expedition leader Raphaël Domjan wrote yesterday, in his most recently-posted logbook entry. “If everything goes according to plan, we should cross the last longitude line tomorrow and then reach Monaco, the departure point of our adventure. Friday May 4th, 2012, on this day early in the afternoon we shall succeed in this first journey around the world with solar energy.”

Source: PlanetSolar via Inhabitat

View gallery - 46 images

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11 comments
Ben Coxworth
Ben Coxworth
Based out of Edmonton, Canada, Ben Coxworth has been writing for New Atlas since 2009 and is presently Managing Editor for North America. An experienced freelance writer, he previously obtained an English BA from the University of Saskatchewan, then spent over 20 years working in various markets as a television reporter, producer and news videographer. Ben is particularly interested in scientific innovation, human-powered transportation, and the marine environment.

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11 comments
BigGoofyGuy
I think that is not only cool but also green. I think it looks like a space ship from Star Trek or maybe Star Wars.
William H Lanteigne
How is a boat hull made of synthetic, factory-made artificial materials, powered by factory-made solar cells, any "greener" than a wooden hull sailboat?
Leon217
Wind is ceated by the heat from the sun, thus "solar" kept early navigators and trade going many years before fossil fuel
Boret
What is "greener" about it is that many people prefer engine powered craft over sails. Not everyone is suited for sailing or wants the hassle and danger involved with sail power. Further, every sail boat of any size uses engines to power them when there is no wind or for navigating in tight quarters.
If this technology can be used to power ships that would otherwise use fossil fuels, then it is applying green technology to a niche that does not have any viable alternatives.
jerryd
Can it be green if it's 4x's as big as needed? A 40' one at 25% of the weight, cost, drag would have been far better, more green, cost effective and practical.
JWNelson
It would be interesting to more about how it stored the sun's energy for use during non-daylight hours. Batteries? In 2006, there was some mention of hydrogen, but no details.
Victor Capen
Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see. It is all about "facts" and "details".
Nantha
Ah, great! Now to combine solar panels on the decks with flexible solar cells in the sails. That should add wind to the solar. More collection of energy? Throw in a diesel/electric hybrid powerplant and we have the ability to save lots of fuel on practical everyday boats/ships.
Jonathan Cole
The facts of solar boats is they can move in a straight line with no tacking so even a slower water speed results in a faster arrival at your destination. Plus, the solar and the batteries cost about the same as sail rigging, masts and hardware. In addition, a catamaran has a much lower center of gravity on a solar boat compared to a sailboat and is much less likely to flip in severe weather. And the solar boat does not need to pollute the water and air with a noisy, stinky, very expensive backup diesel motor.
Paul van Dinther
All this "green" talk is annoying and short-sighted. This is just cool technology. But I imagine the high power electronics are the Achilles heel of this craft.
Recently I crewed on a Lagoon cat that used to be a hybrid sailing cat. The rotating propellers in the water charged the battery banks while under sail (Cost about a knot of boatspeed which is a lot when you cruise at 7 kts)
When not under sail there was about enough power in the batteries to drive the boat for 1 hour after which the diesel generator needed to be started. Terribly underpowered vessel.
The killer was the fact that nobody around the world knows how to repair these things and the electronics in the salty sea air were not very reliable. I can tell you that that is not a good feeling when you manoeuvre the boat through some reefs in rough weather.
The boat has recently been converted to diesel to much relief of the owner and crew. All technology needs to be tried and that is cool. Over many years some things prove useable, most don't. The green argument at this early adopter stage is totally insignificant.
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