Experts have begun to talk about the “end of all fuels,” and hydrogen is in serious danger. What has happened? We have just learned about a much better energy source for the vehicles of the future, and one of them has begun to circle the Earth without gasoline, electricity, gas, or hydrogen (or methanol or ammonia). How did it do it? Simply, with the Sun, and already known to stay at 39,000 feet of altitude, a milestone never achieved by mankind and that has passed through America on several occasions.
The world is shocked by the first-ever photovoltaic vehicle: It’s circling the Earth at 39,000 feet
Among inventions of recent years, one can mention the Solar Impulse, an aircraft that flies through the sky using solar energy as its only source of power with the mission of making a round-the-world flight without using a single drop of fuel. This outstanding realization was developed by the Swiss leaders Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg and reached incredible limits in the field of aviation.
The Solar Impulse project began in 2003, and the main objective of which was to develop, engineer, and fly a solar-powered airplane around the world. The project was divided into two phases: the HB-SIA prototype, which flew for the first time in 2010, and the HB-SIB which was used to actualize the round-the-world flight in 2016.
The organizational work of this project required a team of over 100 specialist engineers, technicians, and advisors to make this dream come true. The team met many adversities, including the fabrication of a light but strong structure for the aircraft airframe and the manufacture of efficient solar cells and batteries for round-the-clock power supply to the aircraft.
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The realization of the Solar Impulse was a very slow and strenuous process, filled with several challenges and significant accomplishments. They invested large amounts of time in the wind tunnel, changing the design of the aircraft over and over until it was aerodynamically perfect.
The Solar Impulse was 72 meters across its wings, thus being wider than a Boeing 747 jumbo jet. Although this was a jumbo jet with a passenger version of 747, the aircraft itself only weighed 2300 kg, which was similar to a mid-sized car. It was furnished with four electric motors, which supplied 17. 5 horsepower.
These motors were in turn driven by the solar cells and batteries, and the total power output of the solar cells, batteries and motors was 70 kw. During the round-the-round flight, the Solar Impulse achieved a number of records, among which are the longest solo flight in the history of aviation (117 hours from Japan to Hawaii) and the first solar-powered flight over the Pacific Ocean.
Years of development to beat all existing fuels: Aerial transport could be decarbonized today
The aircraft also established its capability of flying during the day and at night, which means solar power can be a generator source in the aviation industry. Of all the features of Solar Impulse, one of the most peculiar was the lightweight and high-efficiency solar panels made by Sunpower. These cells were installed on the skin of the plane’s wings and offered more than 22% conversion efficiency.
Another component was the aircraft’s batteries, as this was a power storage system during the day used to power the motors at night. It is, however, noteworthy that the team directly collaborated with Kokam for the improvement of lighter yet high energy-density lithium-ion batteries as applied to the flight conditions characterized by high temperature and pressure.
The Solar Impulse is a demonstration of how one of the most polluting forms of transport, such as air travel, can be decarbonized without the need for electric or hydrogen engines. These are also promising, of course, and generate even more confidence than a solar-powered airplane. However, the Sun’s energy is inexhaustible, free and powerful, making it an opportunity we could never ignore (we have done so far).
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