FEUP students’ solar-powered boat set sail from Leixões on a pioneering 800-kilometre voyage

Before setting off, all they had to do was charge the batteries, leaving the rest to solar power.

Atlântico is the name of the solar-powered boat created by students from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Porto. It set off from Matosinhos, at the Port of Leixões, and will cover a distance of 800 kilometres.

Before setting off, all that was needed was to charge the batteries, leaving the rest to solar power. For the students, the swell is the main challenge, as it can make the boat ‘unstable’.

As it picks up speed, the boat “levitates” and the hull rises out of the water, reducing drag, consuming less energy and making it more efficient. The vessel weighs 300 kg, is six metres long and has a power output of 1.5 kWh.

This pioneering expedition coincides with the Volta a Portugal à Vela, a race returning to the sea after a 23-year hiatus, featuring 31 boats and set to sail along the coast until 1 August. It will call at various ports and marinas along the Portuguese coast, including Figueira da Foz, Cascais, Lisbon and Sines, before finishing in Vila Real de Santo António.

During the stopovers, the Atlântico will be on display across the country and the team will raise awareness of the project, seeking to highlight the potential of renewable energy applied to the maritime sector and the development of sustainable solutions for navigation.