A solar airplane aiming to fly night and day: a partnership marking Solvay’s commitment to Innovation and Sustainable Development.
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Solar Impulse :
 Be part of it , join the Supporters Program
Become an Ambassador for a project promoting renewable energies, energy savings and greater respect of the environment, by joining the Supporters Program to play a concrete role in the future of our planet.
The Supporters Program allows anyone who subscribes to these issues, conveyed by the Solar Impulse to sponsor one of the 10,748 solar cells that will cover the plane’s wings, which offers everyone a chance to get personally and actively involved in the project.
By becoming a supporter, you involve yourself personally, you add your voice to the project and participate in the Solar Impulse.
Supporters' financial contributions will contribute directly to the technological development of the project, via the Solar Impulse Foundation.
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Solar Impulse at a glance
A futurist challenge
Solar Impulse is above all a symbol for all of us, generating maximum support for technologies and positive attitude towards renewable energies in order to ensure the energy and ecological future of our planet.
The goal for Solar Impulse is to embark on a world tour in a zero fuel aircraft capable of taking off autonomously, flying night and day on solar energy captured by solar cells mounted on the wings and able to climb up to 12,000 meters altitude.
Timeline
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End 2003
2005-2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
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Launch of the project, after feasibility study by EPFL
Concept, design and construction of the Prototype HB-SIA
Presentation of the HB-SIA prototype and test flights
First 36-hour flight (night flight) of the prototype
Construction of the record plane HB-SIB
Several days missions and Round-the-world flight with stopovers
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Solvay & Solar Impulse
Solvay recognizes in Solar Impulse the values that sustain the Group over the past 145 years:
- A Pioneering Spirit, including a sensitivity to ecological challenges, with positive and practical awareness of sustainable development, leading the search for alternatives to non-renewable resources
- The Human dimension encouraging dialogue and reflecting the Group’s culture and willingness to engage in collaborative efforts.
- Business-oriented values, allowing sustainable growth to be achieved through innovation, and promoting a positive and credible image for the Group and its entrepreneurial spirit.
- Environmental awareness, showing that chemistry and life sciences are an important part of the solution to the challenges that rise in front of us.
Solvay advanced materials and solutions in Solar Impulse
Solvay’s solutions and support
As first Main Partner, Solvay is supporting the project financially and also playing a very active role by offering innovative and technological solutions and know how, making available its skills, forecasting and simulating their behavior in extreme environments.
Over 6 000 parts in the Solar Impulse contain Solvay materials from Solvay Advanced Polymers, Solvay Solexis and Solvay Fluor, especially Ultra high performance polymers.
Many of the Solvay solutions selected for the airplane come from Solvay Advanced Polymers, Solvay Solexis and Solvay Fluor.
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Solar Impulse pictures: © Solar Impulse/EPFL Claudio Leonardi
