The time is ripe for the broad use of solar technology. The fact that this especially applies to navigation will be proven with the construction and journey of the solar boat "sun21". The catamaran will travel from Basel to New York, thereby becoming the first entirely solar-powered boat to cross the Atlantic.
Solar boats are vessels with electric engines that are powered by photovoltaic cells. No other vehicle is better suited to transforming photovoltaic energy into mobility. This technology is quite advanced and has demonstrated its potential in practice. Environmentally friendly solar energy could be used to power a large proportion of the increasing number of ocean-going commercial vessels as well as many leisure boats. The technology of solar boats is part of the future; it needs increased publicity and acceptance to enable its breakthrough. This is the objective of transatlantic21.
"May transatlantic21 use renewable energy not only to defy wind and waves, storms and tides but also to release political energy."
Federal Councillor Moritz Leuenberger, Head of the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications.
"Be it on the ground, at sea or in the air, the world needs pioneers to demonstrate the importance of renewable energy sources and new technology to assure a sustainable future."
Bertrand Piccard: psychiatrist, aeronaut, president "Winds of Hope"