The world's largest solar-powered boat built by Knierim Yachtbau revealed its futuristic shape for the first time at the end of March, during an official ceremony held at the HDW shipyard in Kiel (Germany). After more than 13 months spent in the boatyard in the hands of Knierim Yachtbau’s boatbuilding team, PlanetSolar slid into the water for the first time.
The two hundred people witnessing the catamaran’s launch were finally able to see the colossal size of the largest solar-powered boat in the world, which is 31 metres long, 15 metres wide and 7.5 metres high and has 500 square-metres of photovoltaic solar panels.
The ceremony unfolded before the admiring and enthusiastic eyes of PlanetSolar's main protagonists. Raphaël Domjan, initiator of the project and skipper of the multi-hull boat, was especially filled with emotion: "This is a unique feeling to see in front of me today a boat that I so often dreamed of! I can't wait to hold the controls in my hand soon, D-day is coming."
Immo Ströher, owner of the multi-hull boat, wanted above all to emphasise the technological significance of the event: "Each step in the PlanetSolar project is a step further in the technological development of renewable energy sources. Thanks to ambitious projects like this scientific research is making progress."
The vessel, which can reach an average speed of 8 knots (15 km/h) will use only energy from the sun to cross the Atlantic and travel around both the Pacific and the India Ocean. Its solar panels comprise 38,000 solar cells, and according to the project’s sponsors, the ship is extremely efficient, with a conversion rate of 22%.
After the launch in Kiel, the catamaran will now be subject to a battery of tests to guarantee its seaworthiness ahead of the voyage from New York to Singapore. The round-the-world trip will begin in April 2011, with ports of call in Hamburg, New York, San Francisco, Singapore and Abu Dhabi. During the stopovers, the public will be able to visit the ship and find out first-hand how it was built and obtain information on solar energy.
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