Solar plane takes off in Switzerland

Agence France-Press reports on the historical solar plane flight that took off this morning in Switzerland.

Star Impulse (picture right) set off to fly on a 25 hour trip from Payerne, Switzerland. The ground crew will see if it can take in enough electrical charge during daylight hours to continue overnight.

The round-the-clock flight by the prototype built last year is the first major hurdle for the project since it started seven years ago, with the aim of flying around the world by 2013 or 2014.

The speed is only 22 miles per hour with a single pilot. This is much slower than a small aircraft like a Cessna that reaches over 100 mph.

Read the full story: Solar plane sets out on historic flight

Photo from France 24

Sierra Leone to save mangroves

Reuters reports on conservationists' efforts to protect what's left of West African mangrove forests.

The mangrove trees have been cut down to fuel salt production in Sierra Leone.

For generations, villagers have scraped "salt dust" from the soil, added seawater, and boiled it over wood stoves.

Marie Kano, head of the salt producers association, said many of the mangrove trees used for fuel have already gone. "We don't have any wood left now," she said. "My children, sister and father ... all used to cook salt. But because there is no wood anymore, they all left and went to town."

Now conservation groups are trying to salvage the few remaining forests while helping the poor residents keep their livelihoods.

Solar-panel fueled salt extractors are being introduced, the mangroves replanted and carbon trading schemes in the works.

Read the full story: West Africa sets out to protect dying mangroves

Photograph by Royalty Free / CORBIS

Fly solar for zero environmental impact?

Ecotravel News was away celebrating the holiday season but is now back and ready with new travel news for the (almost) new year.

USA Today reports on the solar-powered plane that engineers hope will be a prototype to be used for future commercial trips.

While the world's attention was tuned to the recent global climate conference in Copenhagen, in an old airplane hangar on a small Swiss airfield, a group of visionaries, dreamers and engineers was busily assembling a vehicle that is their solution to global climate change and the future of commercial aviation. This airplane uses no fossil or bio-fuels. It is a solar-powered airplane, collecting the sun's rays on 12,000 solar cells spread across its wings to charge the special lithium-polymer batteries that will continue to power the airplane from sunset till the next sunrise.

Read the full story: Can a solar-powered airplane be the future of aviation?

Photo by David Grossman

Berlin solar-powered boat launch

Reuters video reports on the new solar-powered boat that will take visitors around Berlin, Germany's rivers.

The 60-passenger boat called Solon is powered solely by the solar panels placed on the roof. The panels soak in the sun and the energy produced is stored in batteries. Another benefit is that no smelly fumes and barely any noise comes from running the boat.

Watch the video below:

Sun and wind power airports

USA Today reports on several airports around the country that are getting their power from solar and wind power.

Among the airports using solar power are Denver (picture right) International, San Francisco and Long Beach, California.

Boston's Logan International is currently testing wind power.

Read the full story: Solar powered airports?

Solar panels fuel Death Valley resort

National Parks Traveler reports on the one-megawatt private solar panel system installed and used by Death Valley, California resort group Xanterra.

The large (five football fields size) photovoltaic array is expected to generate two-million kilowatt hours of electricity annually.

"Chris Lane, Xanterra's Vice-President of Environmental Affairs, says they are on track to generate 2 million kWh for the first year. During mid-day in the summer, the system has produced as much as 75% of the total electric power used by the company's Furnace Creek facilities."

Read the full story: New solar power system puts this park in forefront of alternative energy use

Solar powered rickshaws in New Delhi

AFP reports on the new solar powered rickshaws in New Delhi.

The "soleckshaw" runs on either a motor powered by a solar battery or pedalled as usual using only foot power

India has an estimated eight million rickshaw drivers.

"'The most important achievement will be improving the lot of rickshaw drivers,' said Pradip Kumar Sarmah, head of the non-profit Centre for Rural Development."

Read the full story: India's humble rickshaw goes solar

CA airport unveils solar power system

The Fresno Bee reports on the installation of the nation's largest solar power system to power an airport.

Fresno Yosemite International now houses solar grids that will power 40 percent of the airport's energy needs.

The city will also buy energy generated by the solar grid at set rates for the next 20 years.

Read the full story: Fresno airport puts sun to work