PlanetSolar 2

Earlier this year I wrote about PlanetSolar — the world's largest solar-powered boat. Since then there have been exciting developments worth sharing.

The Circumnavigation

PlanetSolar completed the first ever circumnavigation of the globe by a solar-powered vessel. The trip took 585 days and covered more than 60,000 kilometres.

The boat is a trimaran covered in 537 square metres of solar panels. It carries no fossil fuels whatsoever — 100% solar power, all the way around the world.

The Numbers

• Length: 31 metres
• Solar panels: 537 m²
• Weight: 60 tonnes
• Cost: €18 million
• Top speed: 26 km/h
• Range: Unlimited (solar)

Why It Matters

PlanetSolar proves that solar power can take you anywhere on the planet. It is not a toy or a concept — it is a working vessel that has done what no solar boat has done before.

The technology exists. The question now is how quickly it scales down to everyday recreational and commercial boats.

The Future

The team behind PlanetSolar is now using the boat as a scientific research platform, studying ocean currents and climate. The intersection of clean technology and scientific research is exactly where the future of sustainable boating lies.