World’s Largest Solar-Powered Boat, TÛRANOR PlanetSolar, Arriving in Miami Soon
Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News!
I covered the unveiling of TÛRANOR PlanetSolar, the world’s largest solar-powered boat, back in February. In September, this solar-powered catamaran set out on its first major voyage, from Monaco to Miami, FL. It has now been announced that TÛRANOR PlanetSolar will be docking at the Miami Beach Marina, slip A19, on Sunday, November 28, 2010 at around 10:30 a.m.
TÛRANOR PlanetSolar is 31 meters (101.7 feet) long and 15 meters (49.2 feet) wide. It is fully powered by solar panels and its solar cells have an efficiency rate of at least 22%, the highest that is commercially available at the moment. The catamaran can accommodate up to 13 people — 6 crew members and up to 7 passengers. (Although, once the ship is docked, up to 40 people can get on board).
TÛRANOR PlanetSolar on its way from Monaco to Miami
Here are more details on the boat’s design and technology from a recent press release I received by email:
Craig Loomes of LOMOcean Design (Auckland, NZ) designed the TÛRANOR PlanetSolar according to the so-called “wave-piercing” concept, where the catamaran “slices” through the waves. This uses less energy than is required for conventional concepts, where the boat “rides” the waves.
…
The surface of the TÛRANOR PlanetSolar, measuring more than 5,700 square feet, is designed to act as a solar generator. This ensures that the catamaran can keep going for long periods (up to three full days), even without direct insolation. The solar energy yielded by the generator is stored in a lithium-ion battery (this technology offers the maximum output and energy density).
After a short stay in Miami, TÛRANOR PlanetSolar will be headed to Cancún, Mexico for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, where it will participate in activities organized by the Swiss government.
In case you were wondering, TÛRANOR is derived from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and translates into “The Power of the Sun.”
Connect with me on Facebook, StumbleUpon, Twitter, or Care2.
Photo Credits: PlanetSolar
Chip in a few dollars a month to help support independent cleantech coverage that helps to accelerate the cleantech revolution!
Have a tip for CleanTechnica? Want to advertise? Want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.
Sign up for our daily newsletter for 15 new cleantech stories a day. Or sign up for our weekly one if daily is too frequent.
CleanTechnica uses affiliate links. See our policy here.
CleanTechnica's Comment Policy
