Sun fly

A handful of aviation pioneers exudes life in the technology of the sun plane. The jury is still out whether they will remain prototypes forever.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), Aviation accounted for 2.5% of the worldwide energy -related CO₂ Emissions, which grew faster between 2000 and 2019 than train, road or shipping. At the end of 2022, ICAO Member States have one Long -term ambitious goal To achieve net zero carbon emissions of international aviation by 2050.

Although this effort is expected to rely on hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuels, groundbreaking work in other areas emphasize the role that can be played by solar energy. Solar-driven aircraft, although still only prototypes, can offer a promising solution in the long term. These aircraft depend on a combination of advanced technologies that are designed to maximize energy -efficiency, to minimize weight and to guarantee stable performance.

The key for this is the use of highly efficient solar panels or modules, often immediately integrated into the wings of the aircraft to catch maximum sunlight. These lightweight cells, combined with lithium ion batteries, store surplus energy for nightly or cloudy conditions. Special systems are also needed to carefully manage this energy to ensure that no one is lost.

Engineering Innovation based in Switzerland

To stay light and efficient, these surfaces are built with strong but featherweight materials such as carbon fiber. Their electric motors are designed to use as little energy as possible, while smart steering automatic systems help manage long flights.

With its strong tradition of technical excellence, especially in precision industries, and as a nation that is committed to sustainability, Switzerland seems to show its way with solar air shipping. The Solar -Impulse Project is a clear example in the point – one that was about technical innovation and inspiring worldwide consciousness about clean technologies and sustainable solutions.

Under the leadership of Swiss pioneers Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, the project successfully developed a series of solar energy-driven aircraft that achieved impressive milestones in sustainable flight. The duo built a prototype plane and completed a non-stop flight of 26 hours in 2010, so that the very first night flight was only driven by solar energy. This demonstrated the power of the aircraft to generate and store sufficient power to work around the clock.

The second stage of this project, in 2016, resulted in an improved model of the vessel that achieved a historic circumnavigation of the world with only solar energy. The journey covered more than 40,000 km over several continents in 17 legs, with the potential of photovoltaic solar energy in aviation.

The newest project in this mind has been SolarstratosA solar energy plane that is designed to fly in the stratosphere (the edge of the space) with only energy from the sun to push the boundaries of what is possible with renewable energy. The aim is to inspire broader applications of sustainable technology worldwide. The project is the brainchild of Raphaël Domjan, a former mechanic, paramedician and Swiss mountain guide who has devoted exploring and promoting clean technologies for the last 20 years of his life. In 2012, the explorer completed the first circumnavigation of the globe in one Solar-driven Bootplanetsolar.

The 52-year-old is also friends with the Piccard of Solar Impulse and admits that he is heavily influenced by this project, what, he says, has taught him some important lessons. “We saw that the size of the aircraft is important. If the plane is too large, the costs are very high and it is difficult to manage. You need a huge team and it is very expensive,” he explained Waded Magazine in 2016.

Zonne -Impuls costs around CHF 178 million ($ 187 million), while the costs of the Solarstratos plane plane, he told the Tech Magazine, would be “closer to $ 10 million”. Domjan’s two-seater plane has 22 m2 PV cells on its wings, which produces about 6 kW of energy. With this setup, he claims, the plane is only working on solar energy during typical flights.

Spend against Aerospace Global NewsDomjan explained how the power worked: “We have the solar panels that are always connected to the engine, so we use what we get from the sun, and if, for example, we need more energy when we take off, we also use the battery, but when we land, we don’t need any power, so we stop the engine and we just hold the engine and we simply charge the battery.”

Asked how long the plane could sail the stratosphere, Domjan said that this was not the point of the project: “The goal is to go as high as possible and with a good sun we can fly between 2-6 hours. The goal for 2025 will be to fly above 10,000 m. Driven by Zonne -Energy (another world first!) Designed for the Gurzda, the Zervezda, the Zervda, in the Zervda, in the Gurzda, in the Gurzda, room.

Challenges and solutions

Control the plane while the suit wears in the tight cockpit and with limited views will require special training, he acknowledged, and emphasized one of the many challenges that Domjan and his team face have. Some have also questioned the feasibility and usability of the project. Concern includes the ambitious goals of the project, technological limitations and potential risks related to a settlement flight at high height, solar energy-driven flight. “The batteries are a major challenge,” Domjan admitted. “The batteries for the record flight are not yet ready. We also have to change the propeller for the flight at high altitudes. It is a big challenge to have the best, lightest battery.”

In other areas, however, Solarstratos has made remarkable progress. Last year the plane reached an important milestone by reaching a height of 5,993 m during a flight over the case, which shows the capacity of the plane to work at great heights.

This followed on a series of test flights in the past five years, which have been crucial in validating design improvements and system functionalities. Subsequently, the team is planning to try a 10,000 m flight over the Swiss Alps this summer, which marks a crucial step to reach the stratosphere.

Are there commercial implications?

The vision of Domjan extends beyond governed flights, with the development of solar drones at great heights. In a 2024 INterviewHe expressed the hope that the expertise of the Solarstratos project could contribute to the progress in electrical aviation and creating the creation of stratosferic drones on solar energy.

Although it will take a long time before solar aircraft can wear heavier loads or fly as quickly as traditional aircraft, developments in solar technology and batteries can make this more practical in a day. In the future they could play an important role in areas such as environmental research, communication or even environmentally friendly tourism. Ultimately, Domjan proposes a future in which solar energy-driven aviation becomes commercially viable. As the Swiss pioneer on the website of the project claims: “The goal of Solarstratos is to show what can be achieved by solar energy in the hope that the aviation industry will take knowledge and send away from fossil fuels to more sustainable sources of power.”

Standards and conformity assessment can help

An IEC Technical Committee, IEC TC 82, prepares standards for solar -PV energy systems. For the time being these standards are used for land-based PV systems, whether they are large installations or small roofs mounted systems. The TC has also started developing standards for floating PV systems. (Read for more information about this The bright future for floating solar technology). Although solar panels or modules require specific standards for aircraft or drones, a lot can be derived from the large work that has already been published in the IEC.

The IEC also has two TCs that are specifically related to the aviation industry, IEC TC 107: Process management for Avionica, and IEC TC 97: Electrical installations for lighting and beacon of airports. All electronics that go to aircraft must meet the TC 107 standards. One of the most important concerns is to prevent the use of counterfeit or recycled electronic components that do not meet the expected safety and performance requirements for aircraft. IEC 62668-1 is an example of such standards. The IEC quality assessment system, IecqOffers an assessment of third parties and certification of compliance with IEC 62239-1 And IEC 62239-2.

Although solar aircraft will be far from commercially viable, if they reach a broader market infection in one day, IEC International Standards will be there to ensure that they meet the right safety and performance – requirements.

Author: Ann-Marie Corvin

The International electrical engineering committee (IEC) is a global, non-profit membership organization that brings together 174 countries and coordinates the work of 30,000 experts worldwide. IEC international standards and conformity assessment are based on international trade in electrical and electronic goods. They facilitate access to electricity and verify the safety, performance and interoperability of electrical and electronic devices and systems, including consumer devices such as mobile phones or refrigerators, office and medical equipment, information technology, electricity generation and much more.