During its flight around the world, Solar Impulse made stopovers on four continents (Asia, North America, Europe and Africa), and flew across two oceans (the Pacific and the Atlantic), as well as the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian Peninsula. On the way, it set several new aviation records, including that of the longest solo duration for an airplane (117 hours, 52 minutes) achieved by André Borschberg on the leg from Japan to Hawaii, and the first crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in a solar airplane achieved by Bertrand Piccard. The plane is powered by four 13.5 kW motors, which get their electricity from more than 17,000 SunPower solar cells installed on the aircraft’s lightweight hull and wings.
Tremendous symbolic significance
“This is a truly historic achievement, with tremendous symbolic significance,” said ABB CEO, Ulrich Spiesshofer. The company forged an innovation and technology alliance with Solar Impulse. “It demonstrates clearly that with pioneering spirit and clean technologies, we can run the world without consuming the earth. On behalf of everyone at ABB, congratulations to Bertrand Piccard, André Borschberg, and the rest of the Solar Impulse team. We are extremely proud to have been able to contribute to this remarkable project.”
Innovation alliance with ABB
"It's a historic first for renewable energy and clean technologies, not only for aviation", said Solar Impulse pilot, initiator and chairman Bertrand Piccard, on arrival." By combining their respective strengths, Solar Impulse and ABB were able to show how breakthrough innovation can be transformed into credible solutions, and how energy can be more efficiently produced, stored and used to create a cleaner world." Solar Impulse co-founder, CEO and pilot André Borschberg confirmed the value of this partnership: "The mission would not have been possible without the expertise and support of ABB and other organizations that contributed to the project. As part of its innovation and technology alliance with Solar Impulse, ABB provided experts to support the mission, including engineers who served as embedded members of the ground crew throughout the round-the-world flight."
Critical transition to fight climate change
"Congratulations to the Solar Impulse team, and particularly pilots Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg, for their historic achievement”, UN Environment (UNEP) chief Erik Solheim said. "While they have achieved another milestone in flight, their circumnavigation is even more momentous for what it demonstrates about clean technology. We may not be flying on a commercial solar plane in the next few years, but we are already driving electric cars, powering our homes with sunlight and running entire countries on renewable power. We live in a world where renewables are no longer an alternative source, but already the norm for a good deal of our energy needs. This transition is critical to fight climate change and improve the health of our planet and people. Solar Impulse has shown not only the pace of the transition, but that the sky is the limit to what we can do with clean technologies." (HCN)
