Swiss Solar Boat

🎉 We are excited to announce our partnership with North Thin Ply Technology (NTPT), a Swiss company renowned for its expertise in high-performance composite materials. This collaboration is already bringing great value to our team, and their support will play a key role during production milestones that we will reveal in the coming weeks. NTPT’s ability to craft tailor-made composite solutions, with their fully integrated process, perfectly aligned with the specific needs of each project, has been a real asset for us. Their comprehensive approach ensures precision and quality at every stage, from design to manufacturing, making them a trusted partner. 🤝 We look forward to sharing the progress made possible by this partnership and hope this marks the beginning of a strong and lasting collaboration.

🚀 Thanks to our Platinum partner, aventron 🚀 As the years have gone by, our project has evolved tremendously—from our first solar boat to a new prototype embracing an energy mix of solar and hydrogen. Throughout this journey, aventron has stood by us, not only providing financial support but also adapting their perspective to create new synergies between us. Their flexibility and forward-thinking approach have allowed this partnership to thrive year after year. Even as time moves forward, our visions remain aligned. Together, we share a focus on creating ecosystems around the renewable energies we harness—developing technologies that make sense and fostering virtuous cycles to position ourselves as meaningful players in the industry. We’re thrilled to renew this partnership for another year and deeply grateful for their continued trust. We can’t wait to see what the future holds! #Partnership #Platinum #RenewableEnergy #Innovation #GreenHydrogen #Values #SwissSolarBoat #aventron

🎉 Throwback to Scientastic Weekend! 🎉 Two weeks ago, we had the pleasure of representing EPFL at Scientastic, an event dedicated to making science accessible to everyone. From captivating young minds to engaging in insightful conversations with all generations, these moments remind us why we do what we do. They allow us to: 💫 Exchange ideas and embrace new perspectives, 💫 Inspire tomorrow’s dreamers, showcasing the possibilities of a sustainable future, 💫 Promote our work, encouraging innovation in maritime mobility. A heartfelt thank you to MAKE and SPOT for their invitation and trust, enabling us to continue sharing our passion and expanding our impact. 📸 Photo credits: EPFL #EPFL #Scientastic #Sustainability #Innovation #MaritimeMobility #STEMOutreach #RenewableEnergy #FutureGenerations #SwissSolarBoat

🛠 Production Update: First 7 Steps of the REF! We’re excited to bring you a recap of the first seven steps in the production of our new boat, the Renewable Energy Foiler (REF)! This milestone marks the beginning of an incredible journey, and we’re thrilled to share it with you. Let’s dive into the key stages: 1️⃣ We have arrived in Fribourg at the bluefactory to set up and officially kick off production! 2️⃣ Scaffold Creation: Using CNC machining, we crafted a sustainable scaffold from particle board, which forms the mold for our main hull. 3️⃣ Okoumé Plywood Machining: Okoumé plywood, a lightweight yet strong material, was cut and shaped to be used both as part of the mold and as a core component of the hull. 4️⃣ Core Preparation: The okoumé plywood core was carefully prepared to ensure optimal performance and structural integrity. 5️⃣ Scaffold Assembly & Reinforcement: The core was assembled onto the scaffold, followed by the addition of local structural reinforcements to create a robust mold. 6️⃣ Resin Application & Drop Test: Resin was applied to the okoumé plywood core to make it watertight. A drop test confirmed its waterproofing, ensuring readiness for the next step. 7️⃣ Omega Bonding & Inner Skin Lamination: Longitudinal stiffeners, or “omega” parts, were bonded to the hull’s bottom front for added rigidity. The inner skin, made of carbon fiber, was laminated onto the core, with resin impregnation to follow in upcoming steps. 📽 Watch the video to meet the team behind the first steps of production and discover our work! Stay tuned for next month when we’ll dive deeper into these processes through an interview with our production team. Don’t forget to follow us for more exciting updates on the REF! 🚀 #SwissSolarBoat #RenewableEnergyFoiler #SustainableMobility #Innovation #ProductionJourney #REF #Okoumé #Carbon

🎉 Thanks to our Bronze partner, Forum EPFL 🎉 Last week, during the Forum EPFL, we had the pleasure of showcasing our association over two exciting days. We would like to extend our thanks to Forum EPFL for giving us the opportunity to come with the Dahu. It allowed us to engage with students, faculty members, and visitors from outside the EPFL community. We made valuable connections, and it's always a joy to share our story and ambitions with others. We are also thrilled to announce that Forum EPFL has renewed their commitment as a Bronze Partner for this year. We appreciate their trust and look forward to the journey ahead 🙌 #ForumEPFL #SwissSolarBoat #BronzePartner #Innovation #Partnership #RenewableEnergy #HydrogenTechnology #StudentAssociation #EPFLCommunity #Networking #Collaboration #GreenTech

🌿 Hydrogen Technology Expo Europe 🌿 We are happy to share that our team will be attending the Hydrogen Technology Expo Europe in Hamburg on October 23-24, 2024. This is the world’s largest event focused on hydrogen technologies, addressing the challenges needed to bring hydrogen to the forefront of clean energy solutions. It aligns perfectly with our ongoing work on our new prototype, the REF, which is primarily hydrogen-powered. We’re excited to meet companies from various specialties in the field, and it’s sure to be an inspiring and valuable experience for our team. If you’re attending, we would love to connect! Drop us a message, and let’s make time to meet up! Looking forward to seeing you there! 🔜 #HydrogenExpo #CleanEnergy #SwissSolarBoat #HydrogenPowered #Sustainability #Innovation #MaritimeMobility #Hambourg

🚀 Introducing the Electronics & Energy Systems and the Sustainability Divisions 🚀 ️ ⚡ My name is Jules Bervillé and I'm a Master's student in Robotics with a Minor in Mechanical engineering at EPFL. I will be the new Head of Electronics & Energy Systems this year at Swiss Solar Boat. After a year as an electrical team member and a year as Head of Software Electronics, my job is now to oversee the final design and implementation of all the electrical elements as well as the hydrogen system, from the flight control software to the fuel cell and its hydrogen tank. ☀ My name is Audrey V., and I am a Master’s student in Mechanical Engineering with a Minor in Energy Science and Technology. After two years in the Structure division at Swiss Solar Boat—first as a member and then as Team Leader—I was offered the opportunity to be the Head of the Sustainability Division. Being part of the creation of this new division represents a significant challenge, as we set new goals for the association, focusing on developing sustainability projects such as life cycle assessments and vehicle-to-grid technologies. 🤝 Together, through the work of both our teams, we are building all of the electronic and energy systems for this new project while extending our focus beyond our boat, toward sustainable solutions for the maritime world. #Sustainability #EnergySystems #Electronics #SwissSolarBoat #Innovation #Boats #REF #Team #Challenges #OutOfTheBoat

🛎 Big Announcement 🛎 We are thrilled to reveal the start of production on our new boat, the Renewable Energy Foiler (REF). Watch the video, stay tuned, and follow us for updates on the next exciting steps! #SwissSolarBoat #RenewableEnergyFoiler #SustainableMobility #CleanEnergy #HydrogenTechnology #MaritimeInnovation #GreenTech #EPFL #ZeroEmission

🚀 Introducing the Events & Logistics, and Operations Team for 2024 🚀 🔧 My name is Benoît Prudhomme-Lacroix, and I am the Head of Technical Operations at Swiss Solar Boat. I’m currently pursuing a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering with a specialization in Design and Production, along with a Minor in Technology Management and Entrepreneurship. After four rewarding years with the association—working in hydrodynamics and logistics—I’m excited to take on new challenges as the boat’s pilot! My responsibilities include managing all boat operations, ensuring safety protocols are followed, training team members, and overseeing the equipment and materials needed for our projects. Additionally, I support the production of our future boat, the REF, by coordinating logistics and resources to ensure everything runs efficiently. 🎉 My name is Cyrine Naouar, and I’m in my second year of a Bachelor’s in Microengineering. As the Head of Events and Logistics for Swiss Solar Boat, I am responsible for organizing both public and internal events, including conferences and expos. I coordinate all logistics for events at EPFL, ensuring that everything runs smoothly and efficiently. To foster team cohesion, I also plan team-building activities that encourage collaboration and unity within our group. By creating meaningful interactions with the public and strengthening internal bonds, I help showcase the incredible work of the Swiss Solar Boat team. 🤝 Together, we are committed to aligning our efforts—from technical execution to strategic planning—with our ambitious goals. We’re excited about the challenges ahead and are eager to share our journey with you. With the production of our new boat on the horizon, stay tuned for a year filled with exciting milestones and developments from Swiss Solar Boat! #Teamwork #Innovation #StudentAssociation #SwissSolarBoat #Leadership #MechanicalEngineering #Microengineering #EventsAndLogistics #Operations

🚀 Introducing the Structure/Composites and the Hydrodynamic & Mechanical systems Teams for 2024 🚀 🛠 My name is Victor Chartrain, I’m studying a Master in Material Sciences and Engineering with a Minor in Mechanical Engineering at EPFL, and I am the new Head of Structure and Composites division at Swiss Solar Boat. After a first year here — as a team member of the previous the Structure and Composites division — I am now in charge of overseeing the final steps of the design of some structural elements of our future boat, the REF, while still continuing the production of the platform that we started this summer, by managing an ambitious and motivated team. ⚙ My name is Manon Oulevey, and I am a Master’s student in Mechanical Engineering specializing in Fluid Mechanics. At Swiss Solar Boat, I’ve worked on projects across three technical divisions—structure, energy, and hydrodynamics/mechanics—allowing me to gain an overall understanding of our boat. For my third year with the association, I am now co-Head of Hydrodynamic and Mechanical Systems, where I oversee projects related to the boat’s mechanical systems, such as propulsion and actuation 💨 My name is Louis Seurre, and I’m pursuing a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering with a specialization in fluid dynamics. In my second year with the Swiss Solar Boat team, I had the opportunity to become the co-Head of Hydrodynamic and Mechanical systems. This semester, my role is to complete the design of the hydrodynamic appendages using CFD and FEM analysis to achieve maximum performance for the boat. ☀ Together, we work closely to ensure that the constraints of both divisions are well considered during the design process and final decisions. Our main goal is to complete the design of certain elements on time, such as the foil well for example, so that they can be produced and integrated into the boat. #Teamwork #Innovation #StudentAssociation #Collaboration #SwissSolarBoat #Composites #Hydrodynamics #Mechanics