ABB and Solar Impulse form technology alliance

ABB has announced it will support Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg in their attempt to fly around the world in a solar-powered aeroplane in 2015.

The first-ever flight through the night with a solar aeroplane, as well as record-breaking missions across Europe, the Mediterranean Sea and the United States, brought worldwide attention to Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg with their Solar Impulse endeavour, demonstrating the enormous potential of clean technologies and showing how a pioneering spirit can achieve the impossible.

Now the Solar Impulse team is preparing for the ultimate technological challenge: to circumnavigate the globe in a plane powered only by the sun’s energy. On 9 April, the team unveiled a new aeroplane, which will be used to attempt the round-the-world flight in 2015.

“This partnership brings together two Swiss-based global leaders that are passionate about pushing the boundaries of technology and innovation to achieve a better world,” said ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer.

Andre Borschberg, co-founder and CEO of Solar Impulse, said, “We both want to motivate people to use clean technologies; ABB and Solar Impulse will work together on key technologies like power electronics for our mutual benefit.”