Solar-powered speedboat makes a splash (From Daily Echo)

Solar-powered speedboat makes a splash

1:29pm Saturday 18th April 2009 in Search By Jon Reeve , Education Reporter

THEY are set to make a real splash in the racing world without causing so much as a ripple of impact on the environment.

A team of engineers from the University of Southampton has spent months building the solar-powered boat it hopes will make waves in an international tournament next month.

The academics and postgraduates of Team Tarka are the first from Britain to enter Solar Splash – the World Championship of Intercollegiate Solar Boating – being held in the United States.

Speed, manoeuvrability and endurance will all be put to the test over various courses during the five-day contest, designed to push environmentally friendly engineering to the limit.

After their final testing session on the River Itchen the team will pack up their boat and ship it to America, where it will do battle with a dozen other universities off the banks of Lake Fayetteville, in Arkansas.

The Southampton team believes it has an edge, taking advantage of the university’s School of Electronics and Computer Science’s track record in developing solar cells.

The school also has extensive experience in renewable energy systems, power electronics and electronics design.

Team leader Dr Peter Wilson believes that knowledge makes the university the ideal candidate to enter the tournament.

“This will be the first UK entrant in this international competition, and it is fitting that it comes from Southampton,” he said.

“It is the first time that we have done a project of this scale. It allows students to think outside the box when it comes to applications for solar cells.

“We hope this can be a showcase for technology and the skills here at the University of Southampton on a global stage.”

Solar Splash is in its 15th year, and Team Tarka will have to overcome the challenge of last year’s winners, from Cedarville University, Ohio.