PlanetSolar picks SunPower’s cells for next-gen catamaran

It looks like something straight out of Star Trek. But it’s actually a next-generation catamaran made by Geneva, Switzerland-based PlanetSolar, which is looking to set a boating world record, without any fuel.

The company is currently building what it says is the largest of its kind—a silent, pollution-free vessel run on an electric engine and driven by solar energy that would circumnavigate the globe.

PlanetSolar, in conjunction with San Jose, Calif.-based solar cell, panel and systems manufacturer SunPower (Nasdaq:SPWRA), said today that SunPower’s high-efficiency cells are expected to power the new solar catamaran.

PlantSolar spokesman Dany Faigaux told the Cleantech Group today that SunPower’s cells are clearly the top product on the market, chosen over an undisclosed Germany company.

“The advantage of SunPower is they have the most efficient cells available on the market with more than 22 percent efficiency,” he said.

He said it’s a win-win partnership for both companies. Without disclosing specific finances of “the alternative arrangement,” he said SunPower isn’t donating the cells, rather it’s more of a sponsoring agreement.

SunPower spokeswoman Helen Kendrick also wouldn't disclose the financial terms of the contract.

"We are very excited to be the exclusive provider of solar cells for this unique project," she said. 

SunPower may be better known for its panels, photovoltaic plants and tracking technologies than solar-powered boats (see SunPower completes two solar power plants in Spain and SunPower unveils next generation solar tracker). SunPower has more than 500 megawatts of operating solar power installations worldwide.

The boat, being designed by a team of engineers, physicists and boat builders, is expected to be completed in February 2010. It would cast off on its round-the-world tour in April 2011, going from east to west on an equatorial route.

“We want to communicate around the world that there are solutions that exist with renewable energies,” said Faigaux, citing the mission behind the project started four years ago.

The catamaran, at 30 meters long, is bigger than even the famous Swiss sailing vessel Alinghi. The Alinghi 5 model is 27.4 meters (90 feet) in length.  

See a photo of the catamaran here »

German battery maker Gaia is supplying the lithium-ion batteries, while Switzerland’s drivetek is developing the propulsion system. The boat is expected to require seven tons of batteries, weighing 60 tons total.

“We have three days of autonomy on the boat,” said Faigaux, meaning that even if it rains for three days the boat can continue without sunshine. SunPower said its solar cells can generate energy even on a cloudy day. 

The €10 million ($14.2 million) boat is being paid for by Swiss investment firm Rivendell Holding, owned by the German investor Immo Stroeher. After the boat makes its world trip, it is expected to have a second, more private life for Stroeher as his personal yacht.

The €10 million price tag includes the boat’s alternative energy features, with the most expensive component being the batteries, Faigaux said. The boat is expected to initially have an unfurnished cabin to make it as light as possible for the world tour.

About 38,000 of SunPower’s cells, manufactured in the Philippines, are expected to be incorporated into the skin of the catamaran. The catamaran is expected to be covered with 470 square meters of photovoltaic solar panels.

Faigaux said it’s also expected to be the fastest solar-powered craft to cross the Atlantic Ocean and the first to cross both the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The boat has an average speed of 8 knots (15 kilometers/hour) by day and night, can reach a maximum speed of 14 knots, and is expected to navigate perpetually. The voyage is expected to take about 140 days.

He said one smaller solar-powered boat has been able to cross the Atlantic in three months. PlanetSolar is looking to blow that record out of the water, doing it in two weeks.

“We are completely autonomous,” he said. “We never charge anywhere.”

However, as part of its trip, the catamaran is expected to make stopovers including Hamburg, London and Paris in Europe, New York and San Francisco in the United States, and Singapore and Abu Dhabi for public display, education and to promote renewable energy, but not to charge up. 

Solar-powered sea crafts are by no means a new concept. In 2008, Sweden's BKW FMB Energie said it was looking to secure investors for its solar-powered submarine for tourism uses (see Swedish firm designs solar-powered submarine).

SunPower also recently said it was partnering with Solar Impulse, a company that plans to use SunPower's cells on its solar airplane (see Around the world in a solar-powered plane?).