Solar-powered plane
Commercial and private aircraft are marvels of modern engineering, but typically they are fuel-guzzling beasts. As the world moves toward a future of alternative energy and alternative fuels, many are hoping to give the airplane a green makeover. Some are focusing on biofuel-powered aircraft. Others are focusing on using alternative energy, chiefly solar power to power passenger aircraft.
Replacing existing aircraft with solar powered planes is a long-term strategy to reduce carbon emissions. Achieving zero carbon passenger flights will not happen overnight. And no single initiative can provide all the answers. But the airline industry was born by realising a dream that people could fly.
There have been a handful of past solar aircraft, but most have relied on first storing energy in batteries, then flying (one example is the Sunseeker from the 1990s). The HB-SIA, as the new aircraft is called gets enough charge directly from the panels to take off during the day. It does utilize charge stored in batteries to power night time flight. It flies at a relatively slow speed of 28 mph to maximize energy efficiency. The design is intended to be able to fly for multiple days without stopping.
Last year, A solar-powered aircraft developed by the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich has flown from Zurich to London, setting a world record.The 2.6-kilogram autonomously controlled Sky-Sailor flew more than 27 hours to complete the 874.4 kilometre journey at an altitude of between 200 and 400 metres.It was not the first aircraft of its kind to fly more than 24 hours, researchers said, but was the first to do so without using thermal winds or altitude gain before nightfall. On the craft’s 3.2-metre wingspan are 216 silicone solar cells able to deliver up to 90 watts of power during peak sunlight. The power consumption of the aeroplane is 16 watts at level flight.
We can already see the potential building blocks for a carbon-free future: along with solar power, other exciting initiatives include progress in fuel cell technology, and fuel made from biomass. By working together with a common vision, an even greener industry is absolutely achievable.
If successful, the aircraft is expected to prove popular among global carriers, including Middle East airlines. But it’s unclear when the plane would become operational in this region.
