Solar Impulse heads for Morocco on first intercontinental flight
by Edwin Kee
The Solar Impulse aircraft that is the brainchild of Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg looks set to take to the skies on its first intercontinental flight this coming 24 May 2012 at 06:45AM (UTC+2) from Payerne (Switzerland) with the final destination being set at Rabat (Morocco). This is made possible thanks to the high patronage of King Mohammed VI and upon invitation of the Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (MASEN). The Solar Impulse team will not be resting on their laurels though, as they will also take part in MASEN’s commencement of construction activities at the Ouarzazate region.
What is so special about this region? It is said that the Ouarzazate region is going to be the site for the world’s largest thermo-solar power plant, sporting a capacity of 160 MW. This plant is said to be Morocco’s future, where by the time 2020 arrives, five solar parks with the capacity of 2000 megawatts should be up and operational, reducing CO2 emission by as much as 3.7 million tons.
Good thing there are no Bermuda Triangles for the Solar Impulse to fly over, otherwise, it might just have disappeared into oblivion, ending up as another modern day mystery.
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