Abu Dhabi: The future of Solar Impulse 2 is under discussion and one of the options could be to keep it here in Abu Dhabi, a Solar Impulse spokesperson told Gulf News on Wednesday.
The world watched as the plane landed in Abu Dhabi, making it the first aircraft to travel some 40,000km worldwide without using a drop of fossil fuel. The solar-powered plane’s ground-breaking technology has raised hopes globally over the future of clean energy, particularly in aviation.
The project cost $170 million (Dh624.41 million) over its entire duration, which was just over 13 years. The budget included the construction of the two aeroplanes, Solar Impulse 1 and 2, and the salaries of the team of about 120 people.
The project was funded by a diverse portfolio of private partnerships and donations and Masdar was its official host partner.
Speaking to Gulf News, the spokesperson said that it was too early to decide what was going to happen to the aircraft that has set a number of world records. However, the spokesperson confirmed a number of ideas were being discussed with the Masdar team, one of which includes leaving the plane here in Abu Dhabi.
The spokesperson said if it is decided to not keep the plane in Abu Dhabi, other ideas being discussed include dismantling it, which would take about a month, and sending it back to Switzerland and possibly putting it in an exhibition.
“There are a few ideas but nothing is clear right now. The management is trying to find what is the best solution to make best use of this legacy.”
The single seater aircraft, whose cockpit is so small it does not even allow you to stand up, has a wingspan of 72 metres, weighs 2.3 tonnes and uses 17,248 solar cells to produce its power.
Travelling at average speeds of between 45km/h to 90km/h the plane’s journey, which began in March 2015, took 23 days of flying to complete.
It is thought that data provided from the plane will lead to critical improvements in two key areas — energy storage and efficiency.
As the aircraft waits in Abu Dhabi’s Al Bateen Executive Airport for its fate to be decided the one thing that is definite is the team’s planned celebration.
The entire Solar Impulse team will be travelling to Monaco, by invitation of Prince Albert II of Monaco, to celebrate their success, which was thought too ambitious and impossible by many critics when they started.
