When Solar Impulse 2 touched down at Al Bateen Airport in Abu Dhabi early yesterday morning amid ecstatic celebrations, it marked more than a homecoming for the world’s first solar-powered plane that flew around the globe without a drop of fuel.
At one level, the success of Solar Impulse 2 is the epitome of human endeavour and its penchant for progress. During its epic 16-month voyage, that included 16 stopovers, unfavourable weather and the challenges of pioneering technology sometimes grounded Solar Impulse 2 for weeks in some countries. In addition, the pilots had to adopt the mental resilience and stamina needed to navigate vast distances alone at a maximum cruising speed of only 90km per hour at altitudes of up to 9,000 metres. The fact that Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg successfully managed to complete a journey that began in March 2015 and spanned 43,041km around the world, is a testimony to the grit and determination of Team Solar Impulse and all its stakeholders.
The long-term impact of this historic journey is far-reaching. For the aviation sector, this is a critical milestone of hope — with the pilots predicting that within a decade, commercial flights with electric aircraft will become a reality, transporting 50 passengers on short-to-medium-haul flights.
Beyond aviation, however, Solar Impulse 2 consolidates the UAE’s pioneering efforts in embracing and leading the world in transforming lives through the use of renewable energy and technology. From institutions such as Masdar — one of the key sponsors behind the Solar Impulse project and the developer of the clean-energy Masdar City — and the global headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) in Abu Dhabi to projects such as the Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai — the world’s biggest — and the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s plan for buildings to connect their own solar panels to a city grid, the UAE has long been a champion of clean energy for a sustainable future. UAE’s position as Opec’s fourth-biggest oil producer only goes to amplify that responsibility.
Therefore, the technologies used to propel Solar Impulse 2 and demonstrate the power of clean energy will also go a long way to reducing our carbon footprint and providing communities around the world the hope for a more sustainable tomorrow. Battling climate change may look like a daunting task for the global community, but the UAE embodies the spirit of fighting it — with one pioneering project at a time.
