Abu Dhabi, capital city of the United Arab Emirates, will be the start and finish of the first solar-powered flight around the world, which Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg are planning to undertake in March 2015 with Solar Impulse 2 (Si2).

 

Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, is the host partner of Solar Impulse. The team will be hosted by Masdar and Abu Dhabi at the start of January for testing and training before the start of the first solar-powered flight around the world, which is due to take place in March 2015.

 

Masdar has been tasked by the government with investing in and advancing the renewable energy and clean technology industry both domestically and internationally. H. E. Dr. Sultan Ahmad Al Jaber, UAE minister of state and chairman of Masdar said: “Abu Dhabi, Masdar and Solar Impulse have in common a pioneering spirit, a long-term vision and a desire to explore new horizons. We share a commitment to foster the development of technological advances in alternative energy sources in order to contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable future.”

 

The round-the-world tour is expected to take 25 flying days over a period of 4 to 5 months. Solar Impulse is currently finalising the stages after Abu Dhabi and looks to make stopovers in Asia, the United States and in Southern Europe or North Africa, before returning to Abu Dhabi in July 2015. Some flights over the Pacific and the Atlantic will last 5 to 6 days, a feat made possible by Solar Impulse 2’s ability to fly almost indefinitely without fuel.

 

Si2 will be delivered to Abu Dhabi by cargo plane from the Payerne aerodrome in Switzerland towards the end of the year and will be showcased during the World Future Energy Summit as part of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, which is hosted by Masdar between 17 and 22 January 2015.

 

 

PHOTO: Solar Impulse Masdar Announcement New York

CREDIT: © Solar Impulse