ABB, a leading power and automation technology company, is set to accompany Solar Impulse and its crew on the plane’s flight around the world powered only by energy from the sun.

Switzerland-based Solar Impulse revealed that it will begin its historic flight between late February and early March in Abu Dhabi.

ABB and Solar Impulse formed an innovation and technology alliance last year, to advance a shared vision of reducing resource consumption and increasing the use of renewable energy, said a statement.

Ulrich Spiesshofer, ABB chief executive officer, said: “Solar Impulse will inspire a new generation to embrace innovation and technology to solve the planet’s biggest challenges. ABB will be with the Solar Impulse team every mile of its journey.”

Three ABB engineers have joined the Solar Impulse team where they are contributing expertise and passion. Their work includes improving control systems for ground operations, enhancing the charging electronics for the plane’s battery systems and resolving obstacles that emerge along the route.

On the plane’s 40,000-km route, pilots Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg will share duties as the aircraft stops in cities including Muscat, Oman; Varanasi and Ahmedabad in India; Chongqing and Nanjing in China; and Phoenix, Arizona in the US It will also stop in Europe or North Africa.

Among challenges before the mission concludes in Abu Dhabi in mid-2015 will be a non-stop flight of five days and nights from China to Hawaii.

The plane, powered by 17,248 solar cells, will soar higher than Mount Everest each day while fully charging its batteries to stay aloft during the night. - TradeArabia News Service