Nephelios : Solar Airship from INSA Lyon

Directed by engineering students, Nephelios is the first airship in the world powered by solar energy. While the Paris Air Show celebrates its centenary, the Néphélios will be presented from 15 to 21 June in Paris. It has flexible solar panels on top of the envelope. 

Solar energy collected feeds an electric motor disposed behind the steering pod, which is equipped with two propellers bipales. The balloon is inflated with helium, a gas fuels that could ultimately be replaced by 

hydrogen.Called Sol'R, the project was born from the meeting in 2008 of three students and Stéphane Rousson,a french adventurer with passion for airships.

The solar airship called "Nephelios" was designed, developed and built by a thirty students both major French schools as technical schools. The aircraft has a flexible solar panels on top of the envelope, which feeds an electric motor with two propellers bipales. This summer, the airship is expected to make its first flight over the English Channel, replicating the feat of 100 years after Blériot. 

For INSA Lyon (Institut National des Sciences Appliquées), this project contributes to a more ecological, more social and humanitarian access to energy and transport, using a device with low impact on the environment while being able to carry heavy loads and bulky.

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Source : INSA LYON, THe GUARDIAN