The world has heard much of the solar plane that is travelling around the world, a solar powered boat has also been designed. The Solar Voyager is designed and built by Isaac Penny and Chris Sam Soon.
The Solar Voyager is an unmanned solar-powered boat that is attempting to cross the Atlantic Ocean powered only by solar. The solar-powered kayak can reach a top speed of 3 mph (5 km/h) running off a 280-watt array of solar panels and is 18 feet (5.5 m) long and 2.5 feet (0.76 m) wide, with a hull made of aluminium according to the Gizmag.
The solar power boat started its journey from Gloucester, Massachusetts, on June 1st, and is attempting to reach Lisbon, Portugal, in a journey that is expected to take four months.
“If it’s successful, Solar Voyager will be the first autonomous boat to cross the Atlantic, as well as the first to cross any ocean using solar power alone – a title it could claim from the Seacharger, which was recalled six hours into its trip from California to Hawaii a couple of weeks ago.” Says GizMag
The Seacharger is designed to cut through the waves using only a motor powered by solar panels.
So far the Solar Voyager has covered 1000km breached by 18th June, 18 days after it was launched on 1st June 2016.
“We always think about solar as this alternative energy thing, but you just couldn’t do this with fossil fuels — you couldn’t build something that will run forever,” Penny said, to TechCrunch. “Whether it’s long endurance drones, or data gathering for maritime security, or monitoring wildlife preserves — solar isn’t just an alternative form of energy, it’s the best solution. It brings something to the table that nothing else has.”
