Innovate
Finding the right balance
Our boats have been crossing the world since the age of time, with just the energy of the wind, but today our needs have changed and our boats have lost their sails to other energies, mostly fossil fuels.
It has been difficult to balance environmental needs with the needs of rapid market trends. If you’re on one end of the scale, the other side will look either like an ‘Eco sacrifice’ or an 'indulgence in luxury’.
We believe that with the help of biomimicry, it doesn’t have to be a compromise. We can reach an equilibrium.
SolariSails
First integral solar sail
The symbol of a sail, shared for thousands of years, is what brings us forwards, towards the horizons of exploration, while working with natural elements. A sail is a generator and a symbol. Since then, most of our boats and other means of transport have lost their sails to other energies, mostly fossil fuels.
We therefore imagined « SolariSails », a concept of a regenerative solar sail, working again with renewable energies. Combining modern wind propulsion and the integration of the newest generation of photovoltaic film into an integral membrane Sail: *SolariSails* proposes a powerful and elegant alternative to fossil energies.
Inspired by photosynthesising organisms and dragonfly wings (structure, generation process, aesthetics), this sail has been developed to be regenerative. This is thanks to the positive impact it has throughout its life cycle, but also through the ecosystem services it provides and helps to develop...These ecosystem services are provided to the rest of the ship, which itself provides them to the ecosystems in which we navigate and live (energy generation, water recovery and storage, contribution to the alkalinization of the oceans, etc.)
Flagship of the regenerative concept, SolariSails is an effective support for research, development and pedagogy towards a regenerative design system.
The electrical energy generated by this sail will eventually power a hydrogen engine by electrolysis, a major missing link for sustainable and inclusive mobility through which we can develop real solutions, particularly for maritime transport, in order to navigate healthily and sustainably.
SolariSails
Technical presentation
SolariSails TECHNICALLY IN [Phase 1]
SolariSails, 1st integral solar sail, is a system for integrating a photovoltaic support in the construction of a membrane sail.
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This System incorporates battens for structuring and protecting the photovoltaic films as well as the anti-breakage system of dragonfly wings: the “ Nodus ” ; Curvilinear triangle without film and battens, the Nodus creates a space allowing for bending and twisting. It therefore facilitates the installation of the sail and ensures the protection of the films during strong winds.
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A second network of reinforcing fiber in the manner of dragonfly wings, this wireframe taking up the Blueprint of dragonfly wing structures is applied and this also serves as a guide for the application of photovoltaic surfaces cut beforehand at points- keys, in order to keep the general structural cohesion of the sail in “membrane to membrane” fusion. Electrical connections are also optimized by following this Blueprint.
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Translucency of the materials allows the mutualization of light from one sail to another. The great flexibility and ability of these films to perform well in a very wide range of light, makes it possible to generate energy in a great variety of sailing conditions.
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The advantage of this system in production is that it is incremented to the current process of manufacturing membrane sails. No crucial modifications in the development phases of the membrane sails or in the materials used are necessary.
SolariSails
Self sufficient Hydrogen System for the maritime sector
SOLARISAILS TECHNICALLY IN [Phase 2]
In conjunction with various experts in the fields of chemistry, bio-mimicry and engineering, we are working in parallel on the development of phase 2 of SolariSails.
In a systemic vision, the SolariSails will supply the energy necessary for a green hydrogen generator without platinum, which will produce hydrogen on board the boat by electrolysis (The energy provided by the SolariSails will make it possible to take sea water, desalinate it, transform it into hydrogen and then compress it in dedicated hydrogen tanks )...
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This development makes it possible to achieve virtuous and clean energy self-sufficiency, both for life on board and the propulsion of small to large vessels. The SolariSails have a fantastic potential not only for leisure boats, but even more in the process of relaunching Maritime transport by Sails.
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We are opening the doors to a new era, that of not only sustainable mobility, but soon of regenerative mobility, that can be shared with a greater number of people !
