Solar-powered plane may have positive impact on air cargo industry

On the heels of the international Paris Agreement on climate change, many companies are seizing the opportunity to create innovative technologies that benefit the bottom line and also reduce emissions.

On the heels of the international Paris Agreement on climate change, many companies are seizing the opportunity to create innovative technologies that benefit the bottom line and also reduce emissions. One of the best examples of this is the solar-powered Solar Impulse 2 plane’s 21,747-mile circumnavigation of the globe.

The implications for air cargo and future supply chain options has yet to be explored, but will no doubt surface soon. 

The pioneering Solar Impulse plane is preparing to take-off from Hawaii for the final stages of its round-the-world flight using only solar power – with Covestro’s innovative high-tech polymer materials on board to help it on its journey to Abu Dhabi.

Si2 is scheduled to leave Hawaii soon, heading for the west coast of the US before crossing the country to arrive at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. On board will be the most advanced polyurethane and polycarbonate systems from Covestro, which significantly reduce the weight of the plane while ensuring protection for the pilot.

In a a meeting with Richard Northcote, Covestro’s chief sustainability officer, LM was told that not only is the company committed to a strong sustainability agenda, it sits at the heart of its business strategy.

“Solar Impulse embodies everything we stand for as a company and is making a significant contribution to raising awareness of the need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels while increasing our need to be more energy efficient,” said Northcote.

He added that when the company invests carbon in its products, they want to make sure to get a good ROI.

“So, when we use oil-based derivatives to make insulation foam, we expect to see the product save as much as 70 times the carbon used to make it, during the lifetime of the product. That is a good investment of carbon,” Northcote said.

Si2 has been in Hawaii since July last year, when its round-the-world flight was interrupted by battery damage following the historic five days and night flight from Nagoya, Japan, to Hawaii. Covestro, which has been a Solar Impulse project partner since 2010 as well as its official technical partner, recently renewed its sponsorship of the project, taking it through to the end of 2018.

The signing of the Paris Agreement will take place on Earth Day, April 22.

Following its route across the US, Solar Impulse will attempt the Atlantic crossing into Europe and then start its final trip back to Abu Dhabi, where it started its epic journey in March 2015.