The world’s largest solar-powered boat on July 27 visited the Philippines, the first stop in Asia in its 50,000-kilometre expedition around the world to promote the use of renewable energy resources.
The German-built MS Turanor PlanetSolar was welcomed in Manila by Vice President Jejomar Binay, who hailed the voyage for raising awareness about the benefits of renewable energy and the need for more investment and research into the sector.
“The MS Turanor PlanetSolar shows us that current technology aimed at improving energy efficiency is reliable and effective,” he told the ceremony to welcome the 31-metre catamaran at the Philippine Navy’s headquarters.
But Mr. Binay urged alternative energy companies to make the technology less expensive and affordable for many to use.
The Turanor began its around-the-globe campaign on September 27, 2010, sailing from Monaco and travelling 37,000 kilometres so far using only energy generated from the sun. The Philippines was its 15th stop.
The 95-ton vessel is covered by 530 square metres of solar panels that provide up to 95 kilowatts. It is exclusively powered by 38,000 solar cells produced in the Philippines at the factories of SunPower Corporation, a U.S.-based solar energy company.
Raphael Domjan, PlanetSolar’s founder and co-skipper of Turanor, said his vision was to show the world that technology could help solve such problems as climate change and rising energy costs.
Mr. Domjan said he was confident that the cost of renewable energy would eventually go down.
“One day, the cost of having solar power plants at your home will be cheaper than buying electricity from nuclear or oil-powered plants,” he said.
The Turanor’s future stops would include Hong Kong, Singapore, the Maldives, Mumbai and Abu Dhabi before returning to Monaco. It is scheduled to complete the expedition by late April or early May 2012.
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