This is the first and only aircraft in the world which can fly day and night fuelled only by solar energy.

During the SEE Solar (South-East European Solar PV & Thermal Exhibition) which will take place on March 28-30.2012 in Sofia (Inter Expo Center), Solvay Sodi will present a scale-model of the zero fuel airplane – Solar Impulse.

This is the first and only aircraft in the world which can fly day and night fuelled only by solar energy. Solvay, the main shareholder of Solvay Sodi, is the first and main technology partner of Solar Impulse.

Solvay Sodi is the largest Soda Ash plant in Bulgaria and Europe for synthetic soda ash production with a nominal capacity of 1,5 Mt/y. As one of the biggest industries in Bulgaria, Solvay Sodi represents around 1 % of total Bulgarian export.

Solvay supports the project from its very beginning in 2004 – the products from Solvay Chemicals and Plastics are on board, contributing to more than 6 000 parts. The construction of the Solar Impulse is a result of years of research by scientists from Solvay's laboratories in Germany, Belgium and Italy. Thanks to this partnership, Solvay demonstrates that it innovates in advanced solutions in fields such as renewable energy, energy storage, lightweight materials or isolation.

IN 2014 THE AIRPLANE WILL MAKE ITS FIRST SOLAR-POWERED FLIGHT AROUND THE WORLD!

http://www.solvay.bg/EN/SolvayInBulgaria/SolvaySodi.aspx