{"id":116457,"date":"2013-10-23T11:33:58","date_gmt":"2013-10-23T09:33:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/?p=116457"},"modified":"2021-01-04T08:31:59","modified_gmt":"2021-01-04T07:31:59","slug":"5-remarkable-uses-of-solar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sma-sunny.com\/us\/5-remarkable-uses-of-solar\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Remarkable Uses of Solar"},"content":{"rendered":"

Solar has become the new norm and can be seen on rooftops and in large-scale commercial projects all over the world. \u00a0It has become a key component in many fascinating projects that might give us a sneak peak at what the future holds.\u00a0Here we\u2019ll introduce five interesting solar projects that push the boundaries of technology.<\/p>\n

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\"PlanetSolar<\/a>

PlanetSolar has an impressive PV surface of 516 m\u00b2 (5,554.18 ft\u00b2), credit: PlanetSolar
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1. \u00a0Solar Boat “PlanetSolar“<\/strong><\/h5>\n

<\/i>Between September 2010 and May 2012, the MS T\u00fbranor PlanetSolar completed the first trip around the world powered exclusively by solar energy. The catamaran has a total of 516 m\u00b2 of photovoltaic surface (solar panels) which allow it to travel at an average speed of\u00a05 knots (9.25 km\/h or 5.7 mph). It is the biggest solar ship in the world and has an installed PV power of 93.5 kW (127.0 horsepower), enough to move its 89 tons (178,000 pounds) across the oceans, which can include a notable capacity of 60 people aboard the ship at the same time).<\/p>\n

To overcome any potential obstacles, PlanetSolar also uses six blocks of lithium-ion battery to navigate through times of cloudy weather and rain.<\/p>\n

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\"Solar<\/a>

Solar Plane above Los Angeles, credit: Solar Impulse<\/p><\/div>\n

2.\u00a0Solar Plane “Solar Impulse”<\/h5>\n

Solar has pushed the boundaries of the aviation world. The solar plane Solar Impulse<\/i> is \u201cnot designed to carry passengers, but to carry a message,\u201d according to its designer Bertrand Piccard. The gigantic dimensions are tremendous \u2013 a wingspan of 63.4 m (208 ft) with 11,628 photovoltaics cells rated at 45 KW peak mean a solar surface of about 200 m\u00b2 (2,152.8 ft\u00b2). The plane travels at a cruise speed of 70 km\/h (43.5 mph) thanks to its four electric motors powered by four 21 kWh lithium-ion batteries which provide 7.5 kW (10 horsepower) each.<\/p>\n

While the plane cannot travel the world without stopping, flying at an altitude of 12,000 m\/39,370 ft (the same altitude passenger planes travel) for 36 hours has become a reality.<\/p>\n

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3. Solar Motorcycle\u00a0“Lightning Superbike”<\/h5>\n

Everybody is a fan of speed records \u2013 and that\u2019s why you have to know about this solar motorcycle which only uses the power of the sun. The project was realized by DC Solar Solutions<\/a> and SMA and just recently beat the world speed record at around 302 km\/h (189 mph) in the Mojave Desert in California (U.S.). To charge the batteries for its next ride, the bike uses a solar trailer equipped with SMA Sunny Island inverters.<\/p>\n

Check out this short video documentary of the record breaking ride:<\/p>\n

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SMA Sponsors Electric Motorcycle World Record Attempt<\/div><\/div>
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