A special boat was unveiled on the Amstel today: the Delta Lloyd Solar Boat. Seven students from Delft University of Technology, the Delta Lloyd Solar Boat Team, have designed and built the boat.
A special boat was unveiled on the Amstel today: the Delta Lloyd Solar Boat. Seven students from Delft University of Technology, the Delta Lloyd Solar Boat Team, have designed and built the boat. Amongst other experts, the team received advice from Wubbo Ockels, who attended the unveiling.
The official unveiling was performed by Georgina Verbaan, presenter of the VPRO science programme "Noorderlicht". The Delta Lloyd Solar Boat Team will take part in the Frisian Solar Challenge in June.
Georgina Verbaan unveils the Delta Lloyd Solar Boat on the Amstel with Wubbo Ockels. Mark Meijerman will skipper the Delta Lloyd Solar Boat during the Frisian Solar Challenge.
Helping to make use of sustainable energy
Jos Peeters, chairman of marketing and sales, Delta Lloyd: "Corporate social responsibility is a logical part of our raison d'être. Conducting business in a socially responsible way has become second nature for us, with initiatives such as the reduction and total off-setting of Delta Lloyd Group's CO2 emissions, insuring the Q7 wind farm, Green Car Insurance and the Water & Climate Fund. As the main sponsor, we are proud to give our name to the Delta Lloyd Solar Boat Team and help them contribute to making use of sustainable energy".
Solar cells
The Delta Lloyd Solar Boat has been built to take part in the Frisian Solar Challenge, a 200-kilometre race that follows the route of the "Eleven Cities Tour" speed-skating competition. The race will take place from 21 to 28 June 2008, starting and finishing in Leeuwarden. The Delta Lloyd Solar Boat Team will compete in the C (open) category. In this category the teams have to supply their own solar panel, the most important component of the boat.
Meinte Van der Brug, team leader of the Delta Lloyd Solar Boat Team: "Due to its narrow shape under water and shallow depth, the boat can be built very long (6.15 metres) to create as large an area as possible for the solar cells. These gallium-arsenide solar panels have a high yield (about 26%) and take up an area of 8 square metres on the boat.
An electrical system has been designed to store the energy produced by the solar cells in the batteries without losing too much and convert it into propulsive power in the propeller. The weight and efficiency of the parts are important for this".
Aiming for victory
The Delta Lloyd Solar Boat Team aims to emulate its predecessor's performance. Van der Brug: "In 2006 the Delft University of Technology team won the race for solar-powered boats by a wide margin. The students who make up the new Solar Boat team have been busy designing and building the new boat since September 2007.
This team, mainly made up of Marine Engineering students, will compete against 60 teams from the Netherlands and abroad. With Delta Lloyd as sponsor we are on course for another victory. The experience gained by the team in 2006 before and during the race is now combined with the enthusiasm and commitment of the new Delta Lloyd Solar Boat Team."
More information about the team and the specifications of the boat are contained in the press folder. An infographic is also included. General information can be found on the websites www.deltalloydsolarboatteam.nl and www.frisiansolarchallenge.nl
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