Solar-powered boat completes Atlantic voyage

A Swiss-built solar-powered vessel arrived in New York City recently on what the group behind the project said was the first sun-powered voyage across the Atlantic.

Dubbed "sun21," the catamaran reached North Cove Marina after a journey of six months and some 13,000 kilometres from Chipiona, Spain, to the Caribbean island Martinique and then along the U.S. East Coast to New York, the Switzerland-based group transatlantic21 said in a statement.

The organization said the 14 metre-boat produced 2,000 kilowatt hours of solar energy during its voyage thanks to a roof of photovoltaic panels mounted above the twin-hulled design.

The solar energy was used to power the boat's electric motors and any surplus was stored in batteries, allowing it to travel at a constant speed of five to six knots (10 to 12 kilometres an hour) day or night, the group's website said.

The group said this shows the crossing can be made entirely without fuel, a claim which could not be independently verified.

"This proves that in our modern society it is indeed possible to travel the world efficiently and still safeguard the environment," said the boat's skipper, Michael Thonney.

Related News

calgary deep freeze

Alberta sets new electricity usage record during deep freeze

CALGARY - Albertans are cranking up their thermostats and blasting heat into their homes at overwhelmingly high rates as the deep freeze continues. 

It’s so cold that the province set a new all-time record Tuesday evening for electricity usage. 

According to the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO), 11,729 MW of power was used around 7 p.m. Tuesday, passing the previous record set in January of last year by 31 MW.

Temperatures reached a low of -29 C in Calgary on Tuesday while Edmonton saw a low of -30 C, according to Environment Canada. Wind chill  made it feel closer to -40.

“That increase —…

READ MORE
nevada solar panels

Nevada on track to reach RPS mandate of 50% renewable electricity by 2030: report

READ MORE

fuel cell

New fuel cell concept brings biological design to better electricity generation

READ MORE

china solar power

China boosts wind energy, photovoltaic and concentrated solar power

READ MORE

Europe is producing all-time highs of wind and solar energy

Europeans push back from Russian oil and gas

READ MORE