World’s largest solar powered boat launched

The Türanor will soon sail the seas if everything goes well. And no we aren’t talking the Elvish language from the Lord Of The Rings (from whom the name was inspired). We’re talking about an 85 ton mammoth solar powered boat launched recently. The “power of the sun” as the elves would like to call it will embark on a journey across the globe using just solar energy to power up to an average speed of 7.5 knots.

The vessel measures 31 meters long with 600 sq meters of photovoltaic cells to soak in the sun. The brainchild of Raphael Domjan and owned by Immo Ströher, the vessel will have its energy stored in the largest lithium-ion battery in the world. Costing £16m, skippers Raphael Domjan of Switzerland and Gerard D’Aboville of France will navigate the Türanor along an equatorial route. Here’s wishing them Bon Voyage!
[Guardian]