The solar powered yacht, PlanetSolar, which is the world's largest solar powered marine vessel is set to circumnavigate the earth in 2011.
PlanetSolar may not be the first solar powered yacht, but it certainly is the largest.
The new 30m by 15m PlanetSolar catamaran, conceptualised by Swiss designer Raphael Domjan, will cost around $24 million and is bound to break future trends in yacht design.
He will begin the journey around the world with French mariner Gerard d’Aboville, controlling the boat's sleek and unique design alongside the accompanying 500 sq metres of solar panelling through seas world wide to prove its mettle.
PlanetSolar was constructed at the Knierim Yacht Club in Kiel in northern Germany which has furthered the design's ability to easily carve through the water, most likely putting less stress on the solar power and furthering the speed to an impressive 15 knots for the 60 tonne yacht.
While this may not be the first solar powered yacht, it is the largest to undertake such a voyage. Once again the emphasis is on going green.
The company that constructed PlanetSolar, which goes by the same name, stated: “we want to show that we can change, that solutions exist and that it isn’t too late. Future generations are looking to us; our choices will mark the future of humanity.”
The yacht travels with a mission from its designers.
This venture aims to raise awareness of the fact that transportation and cruise boats currently emit nearly 6% of total carbon emissions. As mentioned on their website, the “utilitarian and optimistic ecologists” behind the project believe that we can eradicate all non-natural carbon emissions between 2050 and 2070.
Working only from solar energy the solar powered yacht will begin the journey in 2011, picking up and dropping off passengers from various ports.
Starting in April 2011, a two-person crew will take PlanetSolar on the 40,000 km journey staying as close as possible to the equator to maximise available solar energy. The trip is expected to take around 140 days.