Is solar-powered commercial air travel possible?

That said, solar-powered commercial air travel at the capacity and speeds we expect isn’t feasible, “certainly not in my lifetime,” Steeves says. Solar Impulse can only carry one person—the pilot—and travels at about the speed of a car, 46 miles per hour (75 kilometers per hour) on average.

Can solar power power a plane at night?

Special, energy-dense batteries stored sun power so the plane could fly at night. “Solar Impulse has proved that a 24-hour electrical system, powered exclusively by renewables, is possible,” says Conor Lennon, manager of special projects with ABB, which makes electric transformers, EV charging stations, and other power technology.

Can solar panels be installed on the ocean surface?

So scientists and engineers are working on ways to install solar panels on the ocean surface, providing power to those living onshore nearby. "Floating solar is very convenient because it can just be put on top of the water, and if you need more electricity you can put on more solar panels," says Mr Huang.

Can solar power help people living on remote islands?

"Those people who don't have electricity are living on remote islands, so in this situation it's hard to connect a cable to them and it's hard to install other expensive solutions such as wind turbines," says Luofeng Huang, a lecturer in mechanical engineering at Cranfield University. Solar power is one option to provide those islands with energy.

Could a solar plane be the future of commuter flights?

And while we won’t be boarding sun-powered commuter flights anytime soon, the solar plane’s feat does point toward the future of energy. Pilots Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg made the trip during 17 months, stopping in 17 cities.

Can solar panels work in rough water?

The reason is obvious: waves can easily swamp and damage solar panels. But research and testing is under way to find ways of keeping solar panels intact and working in rough water. Dutch-Norwegian company SolarDuck, for example, is working with German energy company RWE to build a floating solar plant at a North Sea wind farm.