The French Ministry of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Territorial Development supports the PlanetSolar Project.

«It is with great interest that I came to know about the PlanetSolar Project. [...] This first world tour powered only by solar energy, onboard a giant catamaran, will be a terrific demonstration of the potential of renewable energies in general and of solar energy in particular.

[...] Following the "Grenelle de l'Environnement" (conference on environmental issues), I decided to launch a vast plan for solar energy development in France, and I am certain that the successful operation of PlanetSolar as well as its obvious media impact will contribute to the promotion of these energies, still undervalued in our country, and to the meaning of future ships.

[...] It is therefore with great pleasure that I lend the support of the Ministry of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Territorial Development, of which I am in charge, to PlanetSolar.»

Jean-Louis BORLOO

Ifremer, institutional partner of the PlanetSolar Project

On the occasion of the publication by Ifremer of the book "Un océan de savoirs" ("An ocean of knowledge"), forthcoming in Privat Editions and which presents to the general public the latest findings in marine research, Gérard D'Aboville and Raphaël Domjan gave us a sneak preview of visuals from PlanetSolar, the "around the world using solar energy" project, in order to illustrate the chapter entitled «C'est déjà demain» («It's already tomorrow»).

This collaboration between PlanetSolar and Ifremer, French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea, is the first step in a partnership whose basis will soon be detailed. The project ambition -¿Promoting renewable energies is the way towards a sustainable world' - is certainly in perfect synergy with that of Ifremer with respect to its work on the impact of climate change or even more so on marine renewable energy*. By combining knowledge and technology, the PlanetSolar project will also allow to uncover all the potentialities.

For all these reasons, Ifremer decided today to lend its support to this ambitious project.

Website: www.ifremer.fr
Contact: communication@ifremer.fr

The PlanetSolar Project falls in line with the dreams of the hero Jules Verne. This hero is at once an intrepid explorer, a tireless scientist-adventurer and a utopian, seeking the common good. Raphaël Domjan and Gérard D'Aboville brilliantly fulfill these qualities, providing new technologies to a visionary and profoundly humanist project.

It is true that in the Extraordinary Voyages, the confrontation to the Real can be more complicated than expected, and no one doubts that the adventure of PlanetSolar can only be carried out with infinite inventiveness and courage. Both a message and a messenger, PlanetSolar shares with Captain Nemo (the most famous of all Vernien heroes) the passion for the sea and the respect for our natural resources.

It is for this reason that the postcard proposed by the Maison d'Ailleurs and destined to be brought onboard the boat is extracted from "Vingt mille lieues sous les mers" and depicts a sunrise over the ocean, sight that will truly be the driving force behind the world tour of PlanetSolar.

The Maison d'Ailleurs is a museum of science-fiction, utopia and extraordinary voyages in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland (http://www.ailleurs.ch). The only institution of this type in the world, it pursues a double vocation of research centre as well as public museum presenting numerous temporary exhibitions.

Since the end of 2008, the Maison d'Ailleurs has opened an important Jules Verne Space, a permanent exhibition place where the famous writer and all the extraordinary voyages are celebrated. The museum is therefore very proud to affiliate itself today with an adventure of Vernien spirit, but one which knows to equip itself with technologies and an ambition appropriate for the 21st century. For just like Jules Verne, the initiators of PlanetSolar know all too well that the future will be what we make of it.

Patrick J. Gyger, director
Maison d'Ailleurs

What is the Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign?

The future landscape of European energy supply and demand will have to make much greater use of new renewable energy sources and focus more upon energy-efficient methods. Today, we can be proud of the fact that Europe is already a leading advocate in the fight to halt the depletion of natural resources and prevent climate change. Our task is now to persuade both consumers and key decision-makers of the benefits of sustainable energy production and use.

The Sustainable Energy Campaign is a European Commission initiative in the framework of the Intelligent Energy - Europe programme, which aims to raise public awareness and promote sustainable energy production and use among individuals and organisations, private companies and public authorities, professional and energy agencies, industry associations and NGOs across Europe.

The Sustainable Energy Europe 2005-2008 Campaign wants to support you as a European actor committed to sustainable energy. You are part of this communication effort, and there are various ways to participate in this Campaign.

The non-profit foundation myclimate - The Climate Protection Partnership is an international climate protection organisation based in Switzerland. myclimate promotes the gathering of knowledge about CO₂ reduction, raises awareness and inspires long-term climate protection. The foundation also draws upon various management tools, such as CO₂ balance sheets, CO₂ reporting or a performance-management tool, to provide an optimal basis for decision-making in businesses. In addition, myclimate promotes carbon neutrality via the principle of voluntary CO₂ offsetting.

Founded in 1954, the Lake Geneva Museum presents both the culture and the nature of the lake. Many of its collections are particularly interesting due to their scientific and technical quality. Mentioning sailing boats, beautiful paddle boats part of the CGN heritage, the Fishing industry and the Life Saving Rescue teams. Its giant aquariums, permanent exhibitions and educational programmes attract school groups and families Custodian of the very important collection of Auguste and Jacques Piccard, the famous Swiss oceanographers and submarine designers, plans designed by Henri Copponex and François Graeser, 20thcentury Swiss naval architects, not to mention the works of François-Auguste Forel the founder of the Science of lakes, the Lake Geneva Museum could not leave out the Planet Solar catamaran adventure. The challenge of this magnificent project as regards to innovation, environment and navigation, is a new episode in the entreprising mind of the lake people.

The canton of Vaud, home to the PlanetSolar project

For several years now, the canton of Vaud has been actively pursuing a policy of developing its scientific and technical clusters, notably in the cleantech sector. Thus, it is proud to support PlanetSolar, the first project to circumnavigate the world in a solar-powered boat.

In addition to the values of sustainable development, innovation and international openness that PlanetSolar and the canton of Vaud share, this technological challenge has very strong regional roots.

PlanetSolar has found the technical expertise it needs by utilising the resources of the Vaud University of Management and Engineering (HEIG-VD). In 2008, the supporting firm PlanetSolar SA decided to establish its headquarters in Yverdon-les-Bains, just round the corner from its academic partner.

Yverdon-les-Bains similarly hosts the control centre for the PlanetSolar circumnavigation effort. To be more accurate, this is based at Yverdon Science and Technology Park (Y-Parc), the largest science park in Switzerland.

The Neuchâtel region : So many advantages!

A natural paradise

At the centre of the sweep of the Jura Mountains, on the shores of the largest expanse of water entirely within Switzerland, the Neuchâtel Region enjoys a privileged situation in every respect. It offers an astonishing diversity of charming landscapes within a relatively restricted area. Moreover, a farsighted conservation policy, classing two thirds of the territory as protected areas, guarantees that the countryside will remain intact.

Know-how through the ages

Neuchâtel, the canton with the highest concentration of watchmaking in Switzerland, is also the magnetic pole for microtechnology and nanotechnology with the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM), the University Institute of Microtechnology, the Jura School of Engineering (EIAJ) and the Neode Science and Technology Park; a quite remarkable density of research and development and innovative enterprises, the basis of our future. The Neuchâtel know-how and taste for innovation are also being expressed increasingly in the domains of biotechnologies, IT engineering, optics, renewable energies etc.