Yet another airship is getting ready to flutter across the English Channel to prove its competence, but this time it’s the sun propelling it. A group of engineering and tech students from France has been working on Project Sol’R have surfaced a solar blimp, which they expect to fly across the English Channel.

The dirigible measuring 72 feet long is made from nylon and polyurethane and roofed with semi-flexible solar cells. These cells capable of generating 2.4 kilowatts of power run a small motor, which turns a couple of tiny propellers. Its innate outline facilitates exposure to sun from all directions thus grabbing as much energy possible when the sun is up. The blimp can reach a maximum speed of 25mph that I think is good enough for a solar powered vehicle.

The blimp expected to carry a single person on this green trip is going to experiment with solar energy on a new frontier and raise hopes for further usage of this renewable source. So, let’s wish them luck!

Via Gas2