SunPower Corp., a solar panel manufacturer has proclaimed that it will lend its solar cells a next-generation catamaran made by Geneva, Switzerland-based PlanetSolar. Presently under construction, SunPower’s high-efficiency solar cells will power the silent, pollution-free vessel that will run on an electric engine. The catamaran will embed 38,000 solar cells in itself, which will result in generating 124 kilowatts of energy. The cells are capable of converting 22 percent of the sunlight into electricity.
The construction work is on full swing at Kiel, Germany and is expected to complete by February 2010. Being built by Knierim yacht Club, the vessel will initially sail on the Baltic to undergo a series of tests in real-life conditions. After which a 140-day worldwide voyage is scheduled to take place in 2011. Apart from the solar cells, the 60-ton catamaran will also have provision for a lithium-ion battery pack and the target speed is expected to be 8 knots per hour. The 50 people, who the vessel will carry, will get to opportunity to learn about renewable energy and sustainability.