Update for 2015: Guinness World Records for Solar

Back in 2011, we posted this list of Guinness World Records for Solar that had been achieved at that point in time.  With the progress in solar and the popularity of this amazing energy source all over the world, we thought it was time to do an update!  Let's see what has happened in solar energy record setting in the past four years...

NEW RECORD: Fastest solar powered vehicle
Japan - August 20, 2014

The fastest speed attained by a solar-powered vehicle is 91.332 km/h (56.75 mph) and was achieved by Kenjiro Shinozuka (Japan), who drove Ashiya University's Sky Ace TIGA at Shimojishima Airport, in Miyakojima, Okinawa, Japan.


UNCHANGED: Largest solar powered building
China - December 2009

In December 2009, China unveiled an office building in Dezhou, Shangdong province, that meets almost all of its energy needs with its rooftop solar panels. The building covers 807,000 square feet and contains research facilities, display areas, and a hotel.


NEW RECORD: Longest journey by solar electric vehicle
Germany - December 15, 2012

The longest journey by solar electric vehicle is 29,753 km (18,487 miles) and was achieved by the Solar Car Project Hochschule Bochum (Germany) who travelled around the world departing Adelaide, Australia on 26 October 2011 and finishing in Mount Barker, Australia on 15 December 2012.


NEW RECORD: Largest single solar thermal collector
Austria - January 31, 2014

The largest single solar thermal collector measures 70.70 m² (761 ft²) and was achieved by Siko Solar GmbH (Austria), in Innsbruck, Austria, on 31 January 2014. The solar collector was 20.80 m long and 3.40 m wide.


NEW RECORD: First circumnavigation by solar-powered boat
Monaco - May 4, 2012

MS TÛRANOR PlanetSolar (Switzerland) circumnavigated the world in a westward direction from Monaco in 1 year 7 months and 7 days from 27 September 2010 to 4 May 2012 on solar power only. The boat had accumulated 32,410 nautical miles (60,023 km; 37,296 miles) on its arrival in Monaco.


NEW RECORD: Fastest crossing of the Atlantic by solar power
France - May 18, 2013

The fastest transatlantic crossing made completely under solar power is 22 days 12 hr 32 min by MS TÛRANOR PlanetSolar (Switzerland) and its crew of six from Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Spain to Marigot, Saint Martin, from 26 April to 18 May 2013.


NEW RECORD: Largest solar oven cooking class
India - January 4, 2014

The largest solar oven cooking class consisted of 3,639 participants, achieved by Keshav Srushti (India) in Mumbai, India on 04 January 2014. Students of the Suryakumbha solar oven cooking class first built solar ovens, then made a meal of vegetable masala noodles.


UNCHANGED: Most powerful solar chimney
Spain - February 8, 2005

Enviromission's prototype solar chimney power station in Manzanares, Spain, produced 50 kilowatts of electricity between 1982 and 1989. It consisted of a large area of greenhouses, in which air, heated by the Sun, expanded upwards through a 656 foot central tower, powering turbines as it escaped into the atmosphere.


UNCHANGED: Longest flight by solar powered spy plane
United States - July 23, 2010

Zephyr is a High-Altitude Long-Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle made of ultra-lightweight carbon-fiber. It flies on solar power generated by amorphous silicon arrays covering the aircraft’s wings, no thicker than sheets of paper. It is powered day and night by rechargeable lithium-sulphur batteries that are recharged during the day using solar power. On July 9th, 2010, Zephyr was launched at 0641hours and set three new world records. The flight took place above the US Army's Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona and the aircraft was landed on the morning of July 23rd.

Contact Wayne's Solar when you are ready to be amazed by the amount of money you can save by switching to solar power for your Florida home energy needs.