SOLAR IMPULSE SWITZERLAND Overview / summary of the initiative Title: Solar Impulse Country: Switzerland Thematic area: Energy, Transport Objective(s): • Make the first circumnavigation of the Earth by a piloted fixed-wing aircraft using only solar power • Bring attention to clean technologies Timeline: 2003 - 2020 Scale of the initiative (resource/budget indication): > € 170 million Scope of the initiative • Focused on new knowledge creation (basic research, TRLs 1-4): yes • Focused on knowledge application (applied research, TRLs 5-9): yes Source of funding: Public-private Granularity of the initiative (initiative, policy approach): Initiative Source (webpage): http://www.solarimpulse.com/ Brief description of the initiative: The Solar Impulse project's goals are to make the first circumnavigation of the Earth by a piloted fixed-wing aircraft using only solar power and to bring attention to clean technologies. With three record-breaking solo flights with the long-range experimental solar-powered aircraft Solar Impulse 2 of André Borschberg from Nagoya to Hawaii and Bertrand Piccard from Hawaii to San Francisco and later New York to Seville the project raised awareness that everybody could use the same technologies on the ground to halve the world’s energy consumption, save natural resources and improve our quality of life. During the successful round-the-world flight in 2016 Piccard announced the creation of a World Alliance for Clean Technologies (later renamed World Alliance for Efficient Solutions). The aim of this non-governmental organisation is to promote green energy and sustainable technologies and have the first prototypes flying in 2019. I: Background, origin, mission and ambition Ia: Origin The concept of Solar Impulse dates back to 1999, when pilot Bertrand Piccard flew around the globe in a balloon. On his trip with Brian Jones, Piccard became extremely conscious of the amount of fuel needed during the voyage; triggering a desire to ensure his next round-the-world flight was fuel and emissions-free. Ib: Initiator Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg Ic: Mission and ambition The mission of the Solar Impulse project is to make the first circumnavigation of the Earth by a piloted fixed-wing aircraft using only solar power and to bring attention to clean technologies. The ambition is to contribute in the world of exploration and innovation to the cause of renewable energies by pushing back the limits of the impossible. With the project Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg want to write the next pages in the history of aviation with solar 1 energy and demonstrate the importance of the new technologies in sustainable development. Id: Decision making process Based on the feasibility study carried out in collaboration with the Swiss Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Bertrand Piccard’s announced officially his ambition to make the first circumnavigation of the Earth by a piloted fixed-wing aircraft using only solar power and thereby raise awareness for clean technologies. Together with André Borschberg Piccard formulated the mission and ambition of the project and defined the overall milestones. Milestones presented at the launch of the initiative were: • 2003: Feasibility study at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne • 2004–2005: Development of the concept • 2006: Simulation of long-haul flights • 2006–09: Construction of first prototype (HB-SIA; Solar Impulse 1) 2 • Circumnavigation of the Earth Ie: Linkage to other governance levels The initiative is not linked to other governance levels. 1 https://web.archive.org/web/20110628115307/http://solarimpulse.com/common/documents/vision.php?lang=en&group=vision 2 https://www.swissinfo.ch/ger/piccards-sonnentraeume/3648146 If: Geographical scope Global Ig: Time span After the positive findings of the feasibility study Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg announced the launch of their initiative on 28 November 2003 in Lausanne. The first prototype should be ready for testing in June 2006. Due to the many uncertainties Piccard and Borschberg left open when the flight around the world would take place, at that time the non-stop flight around the world was still conceived as a dream. 3 II: Formation IIa: Driving forces Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg: both pioneers and innovators, both pilots, are the driving force behind Solar Impulse. Bertrand Piccard, psychiatrist and aeronaut, who made the first non-stop round-the-world balloon flight, André Borschberg, an engineer and graduate in management science, a fighter pilot and a professional airplane and helicopter pilot. IIb: Approach Top down IIc: Citizen involvement Citizen involved in the formation process was limited to make donations. III: Technical and political feasibility IIIa: Technical feasibility assessment Between 2001 and 2003 Brian Jones and Bertrand Piccard explored the possibilities of building a solar airplane with available technologies. In collaboration with the Swiss Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne a feasibility study was carried out. The study was managed by engineer, entrepreneur and fighter pilot, André Borschberg. The study proved 4 the project’s feasibility. IIIb: Ex ante technical and risk assessment See IIIa IIIc: Success factors No detailed information available about the identified success factors with the feasibility study, however during the announcement of the mission in 2003 the following technological challenges / breakthroughs were mentioned: • The new solar aircraft would need to have revolutionary aerodynamics and structure as well as an impressive wing span "such as an Airbus A-340" exhibit. The whole surface (150m2) should be covered with solar cells; • The aircraft is supposed to fly at a height of 10'000 meters - day and night; • With regards to energy generation, transformation and storage new, light, intelligent and multifunctional materials will have to designed; 5 • The interaction between man and machine. IIId: Incentives The Solar Impulse Foundation has been set up to fund research and development in aeronautical technology using renewable energies and serving the cause of sustainable development. The foundation was placed under the official supervision of the Swiss Confederation and recognised as serving the public interest. The foundation is exempt from paying taxes and therefore confers fiscal advantages for all donations.6 To attract corporates to support the challenge a sponsorship model was put in place. The following categories of partnerships were offered (in order of association and contribution level): main partners, official partners, official supporters, official suppliers, institutional and aeronautics partners and specialised partners. Depending on the category the partners were offered different kind of sponsoring opportunities, varying from company logos on the plane and pilot uniforms, visits to the production site, making use of the site for client meetings, etc.. For citizens, public authorities and non-profit organisations a Supporters program was developed, also including different categories (in order of contribution level): friend, adventurer, innovator, explorer or pioneer. Depending on the size of the donation supporters received news updates, the badge of the year, a solar cell on the wings, a visit to the base or VIP meetings with the crew. 7 In addition the Angels program was set up for private individuals that would support the challenge with a significant large donation. The Angels are an integral part of the team, an inner circle of people intimately associated with the project. Angels could become Ambassador or Adviser and got permanent free access giving them the exclusive right to take part in each high point of the adventure.8 3 https://www.swissinfo.ch/ger/piccards-sonnentraeume/3648146 4 https://web.archive.org/web/20130820013235/http://www.solarimpulse.com/timeline/view/6652 5 https://www.swissinfo.ch/ger/piccards-sonnentraeume/3648146 6 https://web.archive.org/web/20130820100647/http://www.solarimpulse.com/en/join-the-challenge/supporters-program/ 7 https://web.archive.org/web/20130820100647/http://www.solarimpulse.com/en/join-the-challenge/supporters-program/ 8 https://web.archive.org/web/20130820024243/http://www.solarimpulse.com/en/team/angels/ To spread the word about clean technologies Solar Impulse invited known scientists, politicians and personalities (e.g. Al Gore, Buzz Aldrin, Richard Wiese, Paulo Coelho and Prince Albert II de Monaco) to join their initiative and become part of a patronage committee.9 IIIe: Political and societal assessment No concrete information available about assessments made prior to the start of the initiative, however at the announcement of the mission in 2003 Piccard was very well aware that the mission would raise a lot of awareness.10 IIIf: Interim political and societal assessment Solar Impulse is a private initiative. IIIg: Financial risk assessment No concrete information available about assessments made prior to the start of the initiative. IV: Governance: organisation, management and coordination IVa: Governance The core team of the Solar Impulse is formed by the initiators Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg. Piccard is the initiator and chairman and Borschberg is the CEO. The core team is supported by a multi-disciplinary team of 50 mechanical engineers, aeronautical engineers, physicists, specialists in structures and aerodynamics, in design and calculating tools, leading-edge specialists in composite materials and pilots with a passion for renewable