AND WE’RE OFF…SOLAR IMPULSE 2 TAKES TO THE SKIES

Record-Breaking Round-The-World Attempt Finally Underway

The Solar Impulse 2 has at last taken off on what is set to be the first round-the-world solar flight. The Swiss-designed aeroplane took off from Abu Dhabi this morning with Andre Borschberg at the controls. Borschberg will share the flying duties over the next few months with Bertrand Piccard as they attempt to be the first to fly around the world in a solar-powered plane. Powered by 17,000 solar cells the Solar Impulse 2 will use an array of lithium-ion batteries to sustain it on the time consuming legs over the Pacific and Atlantic oceans which will involve long periods of night time flying.

The record flying attempt comes at a time where solar power is fast becoming a key source of energy, in fact it is predicted to be the principal global source of electricity by 2050. This solar revolution has been helped greatly by government subsidies and a decrease in the cost of solar panels. Projects like Solar Impulse 2 are as much about educating people on the possibilities of clean technologies as they are about breaking records. You can follow the plane’s progress via this website.