The World’s Biggest Solar Powered Boat
Monday, June 28th, 2010Weighing in at 85 tons, the Türanor-Planet Solar was launched in Germany March 31st 2010. Following will be a promotional tour of Europe featuring a visit to Hamburg’s birthday celebration.
It is touted as being the largest solar driven catamaran (multi hull) on the planet. It is 31 meters (34.1 yards or 102.3 feet) long and 15 meters wide (16.5 yards or 49.5 feet). It is scheduled for a world circumnavigation in April 2011. A two man crew will attempt to chase the sun in order to capture as much available solar power as possible and navigate her at an average speed of 7.5 knots.
It is topped by scores of photovoltaic panels with a total area of 600 meters or 2160 square feet that cover most of the catamaran’s surface! Additional panels are attached to outriggers on its starboard, port and stern sections that can be retracted in stormy weather. The solar energy, which will be stored in the largest lithium ion battery in the world, will power the vessel’s silent, pollution-free electric motor.









