Largest solar powered boat: MS Turanor PlanetSolar

MS Turanor PlanetSolar

MS Tûranor PlanetSolar, known under the project name PlanetSolar, is the largest solar-powered boat in the world The vessel was designed by LOMOcean Design, built by Knierim Yachtbau in Kiel, Germany, and launched on 31 March 2010. 
In May 2012 it became the first ever solar electric vehicle to circumnavigate the globe.

Tûranor PlanetSolar
Career (Switzerland)
Name:	MS Tûranor PlanetSolar
Owner:	PlanetSolar SA
Builder:	Knierim Yachtbau, Kiel, Germany
Cost:	€15 million
Launched:	31 March 2010
General characteristics
Class & type:	Yacht
Displacement:	85 metric tons
Length:	31 m (35 m with flaps)
Beam:	15 m (23m with flaps)
Propulsion:	2 Permanent Magnet Synchronous Electrical Motors - 60kW each (max) @ 1600 rpm 2 Permanent Magnet Synchronous Electrical Motors - 10kW each (max) @ 1000 rpm
Speed:	14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) (max) 7.5 knots (13.9 km/h; 8.6 mph) (cruising)
Crew:	4

Technical characteristics

The boat is covered in over 500 square meters of solar panels rated 93 kW,  which in turn connect to one of the two electric motors in each hull. Although its hull is capable of hosting 200 persons,the shape of the boat means that it is be able to reach speeds of up to fourteen knots.The boat's hull has been model tested in wind tunnels and has been tank tested to determine the hydrodynamics and aerodynamics of the hull. This 31 meter long boat has been designed to be used as a luxury yacht after the record attempt is finished.

The boat is registered in Switzerland and was financed by a German entrepreneur. Construction cost was € 12.5 million. The name Tûranor, derived from J.R.R. Tolkien's novel The Lord of the Rings, translates to "The Power of the Sun".
Around the world

Around the world

On 27 September 2010 Tûranor PlanetSolar started on a journey around the world in Monaco. With this expedition, the iniatiors of the project would like to focus the public awareness on the importance of renewable energies for environmental protection. The crew of six will circumnavigate the globe solely with the aid of solar power. Captain of the expedition is Frenchman Patrick Marchesseau. Other participants are Christian Ochsenbein (Bern, Switzerland) and Jens Langwasser (Kiel, Germany); as well as project initiator, president and expedition leader Raphaël Domjan (Neuchatel, Switzerland). On 27 November 2010 the solar boat reached Miami. A significant stopover was Cancún, during the United Nations World Climate Conference.

At the centerline of the world tour, the French Canadian Captain Erwann Le Rouzic took over in New Caledonia mid May 2011, for the further circumnavigation sharing the master's responsibility with Captain Patrick Marchesseau.

On the first solar boat expedition around the globe, the Tûranor PlanetSolar has reached two records: fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by solar boat and longest distance ever covered by a solar electric vehicle.

After 584 days, Tûranor PlanetSolar returned to Monaco on 4 May 2012 after sailing around the globe. Technical problems with the propeller system had forced the vessel to stay in an Asian port for two weeks of maintenance. The vessels is now scheduled for a refit so it can be chartered to tourists in the Mediterranean Sea. Cruises are planned with 12 passengers and 4 crew on board.

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