Solar Impulse 2 Pilot appeals for clean future

The Swiss solar-powered plane Solar Impulse 2, HB-SIB, prepares to land at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport in Chongqing, March 31, 2015. [Photo/IC] More photos: First round-world solar flight stops in China

Solar Impulse 2 Round-The-World fuel-free flight pilot, Bertrand Piccard, paid a visit and delivered a speech on the importance of a clean energy future at ABB Chongqing Transformer Company in Chongqing, on April 2.

Solar Impulse 2 Round-The-World fuel-free flight pilot, Bertrand Piccard

Piccard was well received by the audience and staff members of ABB Chongqing. He has previously attended a conference at the Chongqing Bashu Secondary School where 1600 students were in present.

"Each time we speak of energy you will hear people say 'we have to produce more'. It's not by producing more that we will save the planet and make good profit. The best profit is to save energy." Piccard said to the audience. "Clean technologies can make a better quality of life. Now it's really important to understand that if we want to solve the problems of the environment, the problem of climate change, we have technologies as solutions today."

In the speech, Piccard initiated the "The Future Is Clean" movement, calling all members to log on to www.FutureIsClean.org and add their voice to the message.

The website is a petition to convince governments around the globe to implement necessary technological solutions in the coming Conference on Climate Change of the United Nations (COP21), which will define the new Kyoto protocol in Paris in December 2015.

"Only a significant support will push governments to replace old polluting technologies with clean and efficient technologies. This is what we want to fly a plane day and night without fuel, imagine the potential of these technologies in our daily lives, to achieve energy savings and reduce CO2 emissions," Piccard said. "This would help create jobs, develop new industrial markets while also protecting the environment."

There are several world leading technologies inside the Solar Impulse 2. The plane is built with the electrical motors that boast 97 percent efficiency, top shelf electrical batteries, the lightest carbon fibers structures, highly efficient LED lighting system, and light and efficient insulation.

"Several technologies have already been applied in daily industries. The insulation form is already now going in the construction of the refrigerators and insulation of houses. Light structures are going in the elevators of Schindler. The batteries are available now and can be used for several applications." Piccard said.

Yu Zhen, vice president of ABB China corporate communications, said the cooperation between ABB and Solar Impulse is based on a common vision for a better clean world and application of clean technologies.

"We support si2 hoping to transmitto every corner of the world a positive signal and hope for a better future," Yu said.

Solar Impulse 2 will fly to Nanjing around April 9. The plane will head into its longest leg, the Pacific-cross flight from Nanjing to Honolulu, Hawaii, with Piccard's partner André Borschberg piloting the first half of the flight and Piccard taking over for the second half. Their team is going to advise the pilots very precisely during the flights across the ocean.