Solar Impulse Founders Presented Top Innovation SEIA Award

Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, the founders of Solar Impulse have successfully arrived in our nation’s capital with their solar powered airplane. The welcoming community waiting on the tarmac when they landed, gave them a flag. Bertrand and André have given a Clean Generation flag to each community they landed in, that was a scheduled stop over. This banner from the Washington D.C. community was a lovely reciprocal greeting.

Today, the Two Founders of This Highly Successful and Well Received Solar Aircraft Were Presented the Highest Award the Solar Energy Industries Association Presents

Across America 2013, 4th leg Lambert St. Louis to Washington Dulles, Solar Impulse takes off from Cincinnati Lunken Airport, 2013.06.15 | © Solar Impulse | Revillard | Rezo.ch

In recognition of the first ever intercontinental flight by a solar-powered airplane – as well as its historic flight across the United States – the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) presented its 2013 Innovators-of-the-Year Award to Dr. Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg, co-founders and co-pilots of Solar Impulse, reports SEIA.

The presentation was made today during a press conference at the National Air and Space Museum at Dulles Airport, which was attended by U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Swiss Ambassador Manuel Sager.

Solar Impulse arrived in the nation’s capital following a highly-publicized journey across the United States.  Considered the most advanced solar aircraft in the world, Solar Impulse is the first airplane ever to fly day and night without fuel or polluting emissions.

With its 12,000 silicon solar cells – designed, developed and manufactured by SEIA member SunPower of San Jose, CA – Solar Impulse is also equipped with state-of-the-art batteries that store power, allowing it to fly around-the-clock – something which has never been done before.  In 2015, Solar Impulse will try to become the first solar plane to fly around the world.

Across America 2013, 4th leg Lambert St. Louis to Washington Dulle, André Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard greeting the public after Solar Impulse landing at Washington Dulles Airport,  2013.06.16 | © Solar Impulse | Revillard | Rezo.ch

Someone once said: ‘Your vocation in life is where your greatest joy meets the world’s greatest need.’  Without question, Dr. Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borshberg are living proof of that. Today, we are here to congratulate these two great adventurers in making both solar and aviation history. They are deserving winners of SEIA’s top innovation award for 2013. –SEIA President & CEO Rhone Resch told the winners in presenting the 2013 Innovators-of-the-Year Award.

Dr. Piccard and Borschberg said they were honored to receive SEIA’s top innovation award, adding: “If we can make a solar airplane fly day and night without fuel, can you imagine how many other incredible things we could do in this world with solar energy?”

Today, solar is one of the fastest-growing industries in the United States, providing good-paying jobs for nearly 120,000 Americans at more than 5,600 companies, many of them small businesses.  There is now more than 8,500 MW of cumulative solar electric capacity in the United States – enough to power 1.3 million American homes.  What’s more, in the first quarter of this year, solar accounted for 48 percent of all new electric capacity installed in the U.S.

About SEIA®:

Established in 1974, the Solar Energy Industries Association® is the national trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry. Through advocacy and education, SEIA and its 1,000 member companies are building a strong solar industry to power America. As the voice of the industry, SEIA works to make solar a mainstream and significant energy source by expanding markets, removing market barriers, strengthening the industry and educating the public on the benefits of solar energy. www.seia.org

Bertrand and André are thrilled to be in Washington D.C. with their prototype aircraft, which has exceeded their wildest expectations. From here they will fly to New York to complete their Across America 2013 mission. André will pilot the solar plane for the last time on this final leg of their historic journey.

The flight to Washington D.C was Bertrand’s last flight in the cockpit of HB-SIA. Their next adventure is planned for 2015 when they launch the mission to become the first solar powered airplane to circumnavigate the globe. We wish them well; God Speed and we’ll miss the excitement of their breathtakingly beautiful flights. –Amber Archangel

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