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Loading...World’s Largest Solar Powered Boat Prepares For Carbon-free Trip Around The Globe
A joint effort of scientists, sailors, and investors from around the world, Planet Solar has made a huge push for solar energy by developing the world’s largest solar powered boat. Today, the 60-ton smart yacht is nearing completion, and soon it will make a voyage around the world leaving nothing but waves in its wake.
The global shipping industry has been struggling to find ways that it can improve its efficiency and generate fewer carbon dioxide emissions, and despite breakthroughs in salt water and algae fuels, progress has been slow.
According to EarthJustice, “ships transport 90 percent of the world’s consumer goods, including computers, cars, shoes, clothes and toys…Ships burn tons of fuel per hour, generating 3 to 4 percent percent or more of human-generated global warming gases – more than commercial aviation.”
If successful, the launch of the futuristic-looking Planet Solar boat will demonstrate the versitility of renewable energy, and a bright hope for how the shipping industry might one day be able to eliminate its carbon footprint.
Picking up and dropping off passengers at various major ports, Planet Solar is scheduled to return to Europe in April 2011 after leaving it’s home port in Kiel Germany on February 25th. This venture aims to raise awareness of the fact that transportation and cruise boats currently emit a large portion of the planet’s total carbon emissions (PSFK).
Because the shipping industry is under-regulated, its environmental and public health impacts will escalate tremendously as global trade triples over the next two decades – unless new air pollution and no-discharge laws are enacted by national and international bodies (Earthjustice).
Read more: carbon emissions, global warming, oceans, shipping, solar power
Image found at Luxist.com
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Recent Comments from Causes
I hope they find another way soon.
Frightening, but thanks for sharing.
Thank you for sharing.
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87 comments
+ add your ownVoted. This is a good idea!
thanks
Wow, and THANK YOU!
I met two of the crew members in the Galapagos, what a monumental voyage they are undertaking-safe passage Turanor Planet Solar!!
I just found out, the boat is in Colombia...
http://www.planetsolar.org/be-part-of-it-logbook.en.php
Where is that boat now? What happens? That's what I would like to know...
Yes John D, yet. It will happen. The tech is there and the price is coming down every day.
Step towards the right direction. We need more solar-powered carbon free boats and even cruises.
Seth E. -
'Completely agree with you re solar power for cars (how would one get through a tunnel?), but they would be a good complement to hybrids. There would be a good use for them on regular cars also by taking some load off the engine for auxiliary equipment. But the big problem, of course, would be getting it past the "styleratti"
I agree with a lot of the criticism of relying too much on solar for this; this is the same reason solar is not going to be very effective for automobiles as cars and trucks need varying amounts of power, depending on whether they're accelerating, cruising at a steady speed, carrying or hauling a heavier than normal load, or even trying to get unstuck from mud, snow, etc. You might be able to get a slow and steady start and some acceleration to gain some momentum, but any different power needs may not work as reliably with a fueled vehicle.
Sails would be a good complement to the solar power, and since diesel engines can be used, as well, why not use some type of biodiesel that might produce less carbon than with a petroleum-based fuel?
Too much of the thinking to change our energy and fuel use seems to want one single source for everything when we would probably do much better combining sources, in most situations, in order to maximize performance.
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