At the last minute Solar Impulse aborted its intention to take off from Paris on Friday July 1st at 7:00 LT. The decision has been taken in the afternoon when informed by Paris ATC about the intense air traffic forcing Solar Impulse to fly at a relatively low altitude for an extensive period. This would reduce minimal safety conditions for Solar Impulse therefore the Technical Team decided to postpone the flight to Payerne in Switzerkand to a more convenient time and day.
Details will be announced very soon but may not occur before Sunday.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
The solar plane "Solar Impulse" going back home in Switzerland
*** Last minute *** Departure postponed until further notice (due to Weather and Traffic conditions)
After the exciting week as the special Guest at the Paris Air Show 2011 in Le Bourget, the “Solar Impulse” team prepares for the return to Switzerland. Good news! Luc Trullemans (the “SI” meteorologist) has found a favorable weather window for Friday, July 1st!
The prototype HB-SIA, piloted by André Borschberg, will take off on Friday morning from Paris - Le Bourget to reach a cruising altitude of 3500 meters. André will fly to the east in direction of Troyes, then head Pontarlier at the border between France and Switzerland and finally land at Payerne by the end of the day.
Due to high density air traffic in Paris and potential turbulence caused by heat, the team received permission to take off from Le Bourget Airport by 07:00 ET estimating landing at Payerne after 19:00 (UTC + 2).
The entire flight will be broadcasted and anyone will be able to watch and interact during the flight.
Log at: www.solarimpulse.com
After the exciting week as the special Guest at the Paris Air Show 2011 in Le Bourget, the “Solar Impulse” team prepares for the return to Switzerland. Good news! Luc Trullemans (the “SI” meteorologist) has found a favorable weather window for Friday, July 1st!
The prototype HB-SIA, piloted by André Borschberg, will take off on Friday morning from Paris - Le Bourget to reach a cruising altitude of 3500 meters. André will fly to the east in direction of Troyes, then head Pontarlier at the border between France and Switzerland and finally land at Payerne by the end of the day.
Due to high density air traffic in Paris and potential turbulence caused by heat, the team received permission to take off from Le Bourget Airport by 07:00 ET estimating landing at Payerne after 19:00 (UTC + 2).
The entire flight will be broadcasted and anyone will be able to watch and interact during the flight.
Log at: www.solarimpulse.com
Solar Energy.... Source of life on Earth.
The sun is our most reliable source of energy since the creation of the life in our Planet. It provides more energy than any other but intense research is still undergoing to find the best storage solutions. It is almost hard to believe that it takes the sun just three hours to send as much energy earthward as the entire population on earth consume in a year!
Currently, there are two ways to generate electricity from solar energy.
1) The first is photovoltaics (PV) where solar cells transform the sun's rays directly into electricity. The PV technology can be briefly disclosed in:
a) Crystalline Silicon cells are made from thin slices cut from a single crystal of silicon (monocrystalline) or from a block of silicon crystals (polycrystalline). This is the most widespread technology today. Efficiency up to 20%
b) Common Thin Film modules are constructed by depositing extremely thin layers of photosensitive materials onto a low-cost backing such as glass, stainless steel or plastic. Common Thin Film semiconductors include amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride, copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) or copper indium diselenide (CIS). Efficiency average around 12%
c) Concentrator Photovoltaics (CPV).The solar cells are designed to operate with concentrated sunlight. These cells are built into concentrating collectors that use a lens to focus the sunlight onto the cells. Efficiency can raise above 30%.
2) The second is concentrated solar power (CSP): the sun's rays are concentrated to produce heat that generates steam to drive a turbine and generator, much like in a conventional power plant
Currently, there are two ways to generate electricity from solar energy.
1) The first is photovoltaics (PV) where solar cells transform the sun's rays directly into electricity. The PV technology can be briefly disclosed in:
a) Crystalline Silicon cells are made from thin slices cut from a single crystal of silicon (monocrystalline) or from a block of silicon crystals (polycrystalline). This is the most widespread technology today. Efficiency up to 20%
b) Common Thin Film modules are constructed by depositing extremely thin layers of photosensitive materials onto a low-cost backing such as glass, stainless steel or plastic. Common Thin Film semiconductors include amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride, copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) or copper indium diselenide (CIS). Efficiency average around 12%
c) Concentrator Photovoltaics (CPV).The solar cells are designed to operate with concentrated sunlight. These cells are built into concentrating collectors that use a lens to focus the sunlight onto the cells. Efficiency can raise above 30%.
2) The second is concentrated solar power (CSP): the sun's rays are concentrated to produce heat that generates steam to drive a turbine and generator, much like in a conventional power plant
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Solar Impulse flying back home in Switzerland
After a successful participation at the Paris Air Show 2011 in Le Bourget the solar plane « Solar Impulse » is preparing the flight back to Payerne in Switzerland its home base by the end of the week 26.
Solar Impulse was the Special Guest of the famous Air Show and captured the attention of the thousands of visitors and aviation professionals.
Solar Impulse is the manned solar plane whose final objective is to achieve a complete roundtrip flight around the Earth by 2014 completely powered by the sun energy. Its wings are covered by 12 000 photovoltaic cells in 145 micron monocrystalline silicon combining lightness and efficiency. Their efficiency could have been even higher, like the panels used in space, but their weight would then have penalized the plane during night flight. This phase being the most critical, the main constraint is the one imposed by the batteries that are still heavy and require a drastic reduction in weight and size, so as to optimize the whole energy chain and to maximize the aerodynamic performance provided by a large wing span and a wing profile designed for low speeds.
Source: Solar Impulse
Solar Impulse was the Special Guest of the famous Air Show and captured the attention of the thousands of visitors and aviation professionals.
Solar Impulse is the manned solar plane whose final objective is to achieve a complete roundtrip flight around the Earth by 2014 completely powered by the sun energy. Its wings are covered by 12 000 photovoltaic cells in 145 micron monocrystalline silicon combining lightness and efficiency. Their efficiency could have been even higher, like the panels used in space, but their weight would then have penalized the plane during night flight. This phase being the most critical, the main constraint is the one imposed by the batteries that are still heavy and require a drastic reduction in weight and size, so as to optimize the whole energy chain and to maximize the aerodynamic performance provided by a large wing span and a wing profile designed for low speeds.
Source: Solar Impulse
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Japan supports research on post-technology lithium-ion batteries
One of the major obstacles to the development of electric vehicles and planes as the Solar Impulse is the autonomy and performance of batteries. The battery of the future should be compact, lightweight, powerful and easily rechargeable, but also have great autonomy.
Today, many technologies already exist with returns that differ depending on the amount of stored energy (in Wh / kg). The traditional lead-acid batteries can provide from 30 to 50 Wh / kg, the nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) from 45 to 80 Wh / kg. The nickel metal hydride (NiMH) range from 60 to 120 Wh / kg, followed by the lithium-ion (110 to 160 Wh / kg) or the lithium metal polymer (100 to 130 Wh / kg). The lithium-ion batteries will not go beyond an energy density of 300 Wh / kg, despite all the improvements. As a comparison gasoline, has an energy density of 13,000 Wh / kg.
According to a recent report published by the Embassy of France in Japan, the road map provides for the development of powerful batteries (500 Wh / kg) in 2030 for a cost not exceeding €0.09 / Wh , against €0.9 / Wh today. The objective is to develop by 2013 a rechargeable battery to an energy density three times that of existing models, a precursor to 2030 a battery five times more energy dense
Today, many technologies already exist with returns that differ depending on the amount of stored energy (in Wh / kg). The traditional lead-acid batteries can provide from 30 to 50 Wh / kg, the nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) from 45 to 80 Wh / kg. The nickel metal hydride (NiMH) range from 60 to 120 Wh / kg, followed by the lithium-ion (110 to 160 Wh / kg) or the lithium metal polymer (100 to 130 Wh / kg). The lithium-ion batteries will not go beyond an energy density of 300 Wh / kg, despite all the improvements. As a comparison gasoline, has an energy density of 13,000 Wh / kg.
According to a recent report published by the Embassy of France in Japan, the road map provides for the development of powerful batteries (500 Wh / kg) in 2030 for a cost not exceeding €0.09 / Wh , against €0.9 / Wh today. The objective is to develop by 2013 a rechargeable battery to an energy density three times that of existing models, a precursor to 2030 a battery five times more energy dense
Monday, June 27, 2011
Solar Impulse starting a second plane HB-SIB
"The world is full of big problems that are costly and discouraging"... and this Challenge is bringing hope!...
"Aviation can provide innovative solutions by showing that renewable energy is possible! They are a source of diversification for the oil and future growth, "Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg
Solar Impulse HB-SIA (the first prototype) has been designed and tested after 10 years of long work and tenacity from its Founders and the entire commitment of the Dream Team composed of 70 motivated and highly qualified Staff... and their Faith to achieve the objective!
HB-SIB is now underway with the recognized support from its Sponsors fully trusting on this project.
"Aviation can provide innovative solutions by showing that renewable energy is possible! They are a source of diversification for the oil and future growth, "Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg
Solar Impulse HB-SIA (the first prototype) has been designed and tested after 10 years of long work and tenacity from its Founders and the entire commitment of the Dream Team composed of 70 motivated and highly qualified Staff... and their Faith to achieve the objective!
HB-SIB is now underway with the recognized support from its Sponsors fully trusting on this project.
US and Germany Scientists working together on Solar Energy
Scientists from the two countries, among other endeavors, will cooperate to synthesize and characterize novel materials that are candidates for more efficient solar cells and solar fuels.
They’ll also develop and use fast imaging techniques to help characterize thin-film materials on the micrometer to nanometer scale, and to characterize in situ growth processes.
More details at: http://www.nrel.gov/news/press/2011/1461.html
The solar plane "Solar Impulse" as the Star at the Paris Air Show 2011
The solar plane "Solar Impulse" has successfully achieved its participation at the Paris Air Show 2011 in Le Bourget. Thousands of visitors had the privilege to discover this revolutionary plane powered by the sun and result of the tenacity and perseverance from Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg helped by a brilliant Team of 70 motivated and highly qualified Staff.
This is just the beginning of the Adventure whose objective is to buckle a flight around the Earth propelled only by the solar energy.
This is just the beginning of the Adventure whose objective is to buckle a flight around the Earth propelled only by the solar energy.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Solar Impulse... The solar plane
Solar Impulse, the Solar Plane, is the special Guest at the Paris Air Show 2011 in Le Bourget. I am so pleased and honored to see HB-SIA (the first Prototype) on this 24th of June.
Solar Impulse is the type of challenges we need at this moment to speed up solutions and get results on innovative energy efficiency and new renewable energies methods
Solar Impulse is the type of challenges we need at this moment to speed up solutions and get results on innovative energy efficiency and new renewable energies methods
Stop !!...
Oil prices soar and its existence may already be counted in a few decades .... what next? We live the "Titanic Syndrome" and blinded by the abundance in where we live, we refuse to accept the disaster that we will not be able to stop unless action is taken immediately by all of us!
Among the most important is that of significantly reducing our energy consumption in all respects or our daily lives. We must start a real revolution in our personal life habits!
Among the most important is that of significantly reducing our energy consumption in all respects or our daily lives. We must start a real revolution in our personal life habits!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)