This catamaran runs on sunshine, powering its journey around the globe
In 2010, hundreds of people gathered at a dock in Kiel, Germany, to witness the unveiling of the MS Tûranor Planet Solar, a solar-powered catamaran that was set to be the first of its kind to circumnavigate the globe. It took one year, seven months and seven days for Tûranor Planet Solar to cross more than 37,296 miles to circumnavigate the globe, docking in six continents along the way and setting the record for the longest journey made by a solar-powered boat. In place of a traditional fossil-fuelled engine, this catamaran runs solely on the power of the Sun. Spread across the entire upper portion of the vessel is an array of photovoltaic cells covering 512 square metres.
These power cells convert sunlight into electrical energy to charge over eight tonnes of lithium-ion batteries stored in the catamaran’s hull. These batteries supply four motors attached to two rotary propellers that ferry the Tûranor PlanetSolar through the ocean.
A single charge of the on board batteries can last 72 hours, and with a continuous supply of energy from the photovoltaic cells, the vessel can sail non-stop around the world. However, due to the limitations of the human crew, food and supply pickups were undertaken in many countries along its route. All of the onboard facilities, such as showers, lights and kitchen appliances, are powered by sunlight, not just the motors.
After completing its pioneering journey around the world in 2012, Tûranor PlanetSolar has been involved in many scientific expeditions – such as the Terra Submersa expedition in 2014 to investigate prehistoric landscapes engulfed by water around Greece – and global travel to spread the word about sustainable alternative energy sources.
THE CATAMARAN’S MAX SPEED IS AROUND 16 MILES PER HOUR
TURNING SUN
