The PlanetSolar Catamaran is a multi-hull made of carbon-fiber composites and covered with over 5,300 square feet of photovoltaic solar panels comprising 38,000 of SunPower's solar cells capable of an impressive 22 percent efficiency.

Despite its impressive dimensions (30 meters long by 16 meters wide) and the lack of any sailing rigs, the ship looks definitely majestic on water. Behind the beauty of his silhouette hides the cutting edge technology designed by the firm MW-Line SA, which is known for her Aquarels boats on Lake Geneva or the catamarans of Expo 02.

Sophisticated technology ensures that the futuristic-looking boat's batteries can charge even when some sunshine. The engineers of PlanetSolar take care of the drive, the performance of solar collectors and energy storage, the materials and the external environment. A power of 10 kW is sufficient to the ship at 10 knots (18.5 mph) to move forward. The size of the storage batteries below deck store enough energy for several days without direct sunlight.

Another innovative feature is the use of propellers that sit at the water line, half in the water and half out. This kind of prop, known as a "surface-piercing" propeller, can be much more efficient than traditional propellers, because it prevents the blades of the propeller from interfering with one another as they push through the water, and reduces drag during the time spent out of the water.





This type of vessel appears like the ideal solution for the future. Thanks to the high efficiency of PlanetSolar's cells, they're expecting to achieve a fast journey around the world without a stop in just 80 days, which the team believe will help promote environmental conciousness. "Today, the boat is the most used means of transport of goods," the team writes. "It represents single-handedly almost 1.4 billions of tons of carbon dioxide (in 2008), that is 6% of the total carbon dioxide emissions and twice more than the air transport."

The ship in numbers:

Length: 30 meters
Width: 16 meters
Weight: 10 tons
Surface of solar collectors: 180 m2
Performance of the solar installation: 30 kW
Average speed: 10 knots, or 18.5 km / h
Maximum speed: 15 knots or 27 km / h
Capacity: 12 People
Pilot cabin: 6,50 m above the water
Cost: $24 million

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More Info:

PlanetSolar

Case Postale 70
CH-2009 Neuchâtel
Post Konto: 17-450479-6
Contact: info@planetsolar.org
Partner: partenaires@planetsolar.org
Press: press@planetsolar.org
Web: http://www.planetsolar.org/

MARS is a lighter-than-air tethered wind turbine that rotates about a horizontal axis in response to wind, generating electrical energy. This electrical energy is transferred down the 1000-foot tether for immediate use, or to a set of batteries for later use, or to the power grid. Helium sustains MARS and allows it to ascend to a higher altitude than traditional wind turbines. MARS captures the energy available in the 600 to 1000-foot low level and nocturnal jet streams that exist almost everywhere. MARS rotation also generates the "Magnus effect" which provides additional lift, keeps the MARS stabilized, and positions it within a very controlled and restricted location to adhere to FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) & Transport Canada guidelines.

Magenn Power draws on over 31 years of research and development in advance materials and structure. It all began with designing the Magnus Spherical Airship starting in 1978. Fred Ferguson (founder of Magenn Power) patented the Magnus Airship in the 1980s. This unique airship utilized the Magnus effect for the first time in lighter-than-air craft. This Magnus Airship was a large spherical envelope filled with helium to achieve static, buoyant lift. As the sphere rotated during forward motion, Magnus lift was generated proportional to the airspeed flowing over the sphere; the faster the vehicle, the higher the Magnus lift.

The huge sphere rotated backwards as the craft flew forward. The resulting lift at cruise speed was greater than the total buoyant lift which could be up to 60 tons payload depending upon the final production size. As wind speed increases, rotation increases, lift increases, drag will be minimized because of reduced leaning, and stability increases. This airship design was fully patented world-wide and was developed over a decade.

In the early 1990's, Fred Ferguson then formed Av-Intel Inc., a small private company with a group of prominent financiers from US industry. The new Av-Intel airships encompass an advanced new technology that divides the long cigar-shaped airship into sections or segments that act similar to a huge shock absorber. In simulation studies contracted to the Lockheed Advanced Development Corporation, Av-Intel's design proved to exceed the current requirements for safety and gust loading by a broad positive margin.

In April of 2008, Magenn Power made history by having the world's first rotating airship. This MARS Alpha prototype generated 2kW of electrical power; further testing is being done to bring the power output to 10 to 12 kW. (Size of MARS above is 29.5 feet by 57 feet).

The device rotates about a horizontal axis in response to wind, efficiently generating clean renewable electrical energy at a lower cost than all competing systems. This electrical energy is transferred down the tether to a transformer at a ground station and then transferred to the electricity power grid. Helium (an inert non-reactive lighter than air gas) sustains the Air Rotor which ascends to an altitude for best winds and its rotation also causes the Magnus effect. This provides additional lift, keeps the device stabilized, keeps it positioned within a very controlled and restricted location, and causes it to pull up overhead rather than drift downwind on its tether.

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More Info:
www.magenn.com