Abu Dhabi’s new record? Solar-powered flight

Daisy Carrington, for CNN
2 minute read
Updated 7:03 AM EDT, Fri September 26, 2014
Solar Impulse 2, seen above the Pyramids of Giza on its approach to Cairo, Egypt.
Solar Impulse 2, seen above the Pyramids of Giza on its approach to Cairo, Egypt.
Solar Impulse 2
Solar Impulse 2 aircraft lands at Sevilla airport on June 23, 2016, after a 71-hour journey from New York powered only by sunlight.
Solar Impulse 2 aircraft lands at Sevilla airport on June 23, 2016, after a 71-hour journey from New York powered only by sunlight.
CRISTINA QUICLER/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
The Spanish Air Force's Patrulla Aguila formation team performs past the sun-powered Solar Impulse 2 aircraft arriving few moments before landing at Sevilla airport on June 23, 2016.
The Spanish Air Force's Patrulla Aguila formation team performs past the sun-powered Solar Impulse 2 aircraft arriving few moments before landing at Sevilla airport on June 23, 2016.
CRISTINA QUICLER/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Solar Impulse 2 sits on the runway at JFK international airport prior to departing to cross the Atlantic on June 20, 2016.
Solar Impulse 2 sits on the runway at JFK international airport prior to departing to cross the Atlantic on June 20, 2016.
Solar Impulse/Revillard/Rezo.ch
Solar Impulse 2 flies over the Golden Gate Bridge as part of a fly-by of the San Francisco Bay after flying for two and half days from Hawaii.
Solar Impulse 2 flies over the Golden Gate Bridge as part of a fly-by of the San Francisco Bay after flying for two and half days from Hawaii.
Solar Impulse
Solar Impulse 2 departs Hawaii for the two-and-a-half day flight to California, the 9th leg of its round-the-world trip.
Solar Impulse 2 departs Hawaii for the two-and-a-half day flight to California, the 9th leg of its round-the-world trip.
JEAN REVILLARD/REZO
Pilot Bertrand Piccard prepares to take off from Kalaeloa Airport, Hawaii on April 21st 2016, en route to California. The round-the-world solar flight will take 500 flight hours and cover 35,000 km.
Pilot Bertrand Piccard prepares to take off from Kalaeloa Airport, Hawaii on April 21st 2016, en route to California. The round-the-world solar flight will take 500 flight hours and cover 35,000 km.
JEAN REVILLARD/REZO
The Solar Impulse 2 is seen at the Kalaeloa Airport in Kapolei, Hawaii, on Friday, July 3. The solar-powered plane, alternately piloted by Andre Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard, is attempting to fly around the world without fuel.
The Solar Impulse 2 is seen at the Kalaeloa Airport in Kapolei, Hawaii, on Friday, July 3. The solar-powered plane, alternately piloted by Andre Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard, is attempting to fly around the world without fuel.
Marco Garcia/AP
Borschberg approaches Honolulu Airport on July 3 after a record-breaking five-day journey across the Pacific Ocean from Japan.
Borschberg approaches Honolulu Airport on July 3 after a record-breaking five-day journey across the Pacific Ocean from Japan.
Jean Revillard/Solar Impulse 2/AP
Solar Impulse is seen at sunrise on Monday, June 29, shortly after taking off from the international airport in Nagoya, Japan. The aircraft's Japan-to-Hawaii trip was the most ambitious leg of its quest to circumnavigate the globe powered only by the sun.
Solar Impulse is seen at sunrise on Monday, June 29, shortly after taking off from the international airport in Nagoya, Japan. The aircraft's Japan-to-Hawaii trip was the most ambitious leg of its quest to circumnavigate the globe powered only by the sun.
SOLAR IMPULSE/AFP/Getty Images
The solar-powered plane prepares to take off from Nagoya on June 29.
The solar-powered plane prepares to take off from Nagoya on June 29.
Jean Revillard/SI2/Global Newsroom/Getty Images
A mobile hangar is opened on Tuesday, June 23, as the plane is prepared for a possible takeoff. The plane had been waiting in Japan for three weeks because of bad weather.
A mobile hangar is opened on Tuesday, June 23, as the plane is prepared for a possible takeoff. The plane had been waiting in Japan for three weeks because of bad weather.
TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images
The mobile hangar at the Nagoya airport, as seen on Wednesday, June 3.
The mobile hangar at the Nagoya airport, as seen on Wednesday, June 3.
TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images
The Solar Impulse 2 touches down in Nagoya on Monday, June 1. The plane made an unscheduled stop after mission controllers decided the weather was not right for the plane to cross the Pacific Ocean.
The Solar Impulse 2 touches down in Nagoya on Monday, June 1. The plane made an unscheduled stop after mission controllers decided the weather was not right for the plane to cross the Pacific Ocean.
TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images
People take pictures as the plane takes off from Nanjing, China, on Sunday, May 31.
People take pictures as the plane takes off from Nanjing, China, on Sunday, May 31.
JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images
Piccard sits in the cockpit right after landing in Chongqing, China, on Sunday, March 31. He had just completed the fifth leg of the global trip.
Piccard sits in the cockpit right after landing in Chongqing, China, on Sunday, March 31. He had just completed the fifth leg of the global trip.
Solarimpulse
Borschberg and Piccard are welcomed by a crowd of reporters after landing in Chongqing.
Borschberg and Piccard are welcomed by a crowd of reporters after landing in Chongqing.
Solarimpulse
The Solar Impulse 2 is rolled out of its inflatable mobile hangar before leaving Myanmar for Chongqing on Monday, March 30.
The Solar Impulse 2 is rolled out of its inflatable mobile hangar before leaving Myanmar for Chongqing on Monday, March 30.
Solarimpulse
The plane is prepared on a tarmac in Ahmedabad, India, on Wednesday, March 18.
The plane is prepared on a tarmac in Ahmedabad, India, on Wednesday, March 18.
Solarimpulse
The Solar Impulse 2 flies over Muscat, Oman, after taking off on Tuesday, March 10.
The Solar Impulse 2 flies over Muscat, Oman, after taking off on Tuesday, March 10.
Solarimpulse
The plane takes off from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Monday, March 9. Its flight to Oman was the first leg of its round-the-world flight.
The plane takes off from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Monday, March 9. Its flight to Oman was the first leg of its round-the-world flight.
Jean Revillard/Getty Images
The plane is the brainchild of Swiss pilots Piccard, right, and Borschberg.
The plane is the brainchild of Swiss pilots Piccard, right, and Borschberg.
FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images
The top surface of the Solar Impulse 2's wings is covered with 17,000 solar cells that supply four electric motors with renewable energy. Its batteries can store enough solar daytime energy to keep the plane moving throughout the night.
The top surface of the Solar Impulse 2's wings is covered with 17,000 solar cells that supply four electric motors with renewable energy. Its batteries can store enough solar daytime energy to keep the plane moving throughout the night.
© Solar Impulse | Revillard | Rezo.ch
The plane's wings stretch for a massive 72 meters (236 feet).
The plane's wings stretch for a massive 72 meters (236 feet).
© Solar Impulse
The plane's cockpit has been designed to ensure that a pilot can live there for a week.
The plane's cockpit has been designed to ensure that a pilot can live there for a week.
FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images
Solar Impulse 2 is the upgraded version of a prototype, pictured here, that made history in 2010 by becoming the first solar aircraft capable of flying overnight.
Solar Impulse 2 is the upgraded version of a prototype, pictured here, that made history in 2010 by becoming the first solar aircraft capable of flying overnight.
DOMINIC FAVRE/AFP/Getty Images/file
Solar Impulse 1, pictured here over Lake Geneva, broke several records, including the world's first fully solar-powered intercontinental flight in 2012.
Solar Impulse 1, pictured here over Lake Geneva, broke several records, including the world's first fully solar-powered intercontinental flight in 2012.
JEAN REVILLARD/AFP/Getty Images/file
Borschberg is an engineer who studied management science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The aviation enthusiast has been involved in several startups and technology projects over the years.
Borschberg is an engineer who studied management science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The aviation enthusiast has been involved in several startups and technology projects over the years.
© Solar Impulse | Revillard | Rezo.ch
Piccard, who is also a doctor and a psychiatrist, is the first man to fly around the world non-stop in a balloon. He hails from a family of scientists and explorers.
Piccard, who is also a doctor and a psychiatrist, is the first man to fly around the world non-stop in a balloon. He hails from a family of scientists and explorers.
© Solar Impulse | Revillard | Rezo.ch
Piccard's grandfather, Auguste Piccard, was a physics professor who helped pave the way for high-altitude navigation by inventing the pressurized cabin. He was also the first person to reach the stratosphere in a balloon.
Piccard's grandfather, Auguste Piccard, was a physics professor who helped pave the way for high-altitude navigation by inventing the pressurized cabin. He was also the first person to reach the stratosphere in a balloon.
© Piccard Family
Piccard's father, Jacques, was the first man to dive to the bottom of the Marianas Trench -- the deepest point of the world's oceans.
Piccard's father, Jacques, was the first man to dive to the bottom of the Marianas Trench -- the deepest point of the world's oceans.
© Piccard Family
Solar Impulse 2's round-the-world journey

Story highlights

Solar Impulse 2 plans to make a record-breaking solar flight around the world

Abu Dhabi is the host city for the trip

The plane will fly around the world in four to five months

It will fly as long as 120 hours non-stop

CNN  — 

Where better to start a record-breaking solar powered flight than the desert?

The UAE may be one of the most oil dependent states in the world, but next March it will be the start and finish location for Solar Impulse 2, a solar-powered plane that aims to circumnavigate the world using only the power of the sun.

The Solar Impulse made headlines last year when, piloted by co-founders Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg, it took a solar-powered trip across the United States. A single-seater plane fitted with 12,000 solar cells and four electrically-powered propellers, it was also the first aircraft powered by renewable energy that could fly non-stop for 24 hours.

The next version, the Solar Impulse 2, will have 17,000 solar cells built into the wings that have a span longer than a Boeing 747. The plane is expected to make the round-the-world trip in around four to five months, with some legs lasting as long as 120 hours non-stop. The first and last stop will be Abu Dhabi.

“This well-matched partnership will show Abu Dhabi to be a center of expertise when it comes to renewable energy,” said Piccard in an official statement.

“At the same time, Solar Impulse will demonstrate the far-reaching applications of clean energy during the first solar-powered flight around the world.”

Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg.
Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg.

Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, is also a partner in the project, and will help the Solar Impulse team train and test the aircraft before it takes to the skies.

“Abu Dhabi, Masdar and Solar Impulse have in common a pioneering spirit, a long-term vision and a desire to explore new horizons,” said Dr. Sultan Ahmad Al Jaber, Masdar’s chairman, and the UAE minister of state, also in an official statement, adding:

“We share a commitment to foster the development of technological advances in alternative energy sources in order to contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable future.”

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