Gdańsk University of Technology – Solar hydrofoil of students second in the race in Sardinia

By Marek Grzybowski

Students from the Gdańsk University of Technology science club built a hydrofoil powered by solar panels in Gdańsk. Students from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Ship Technology operate in the Korab Student Science Club. Students won the first two competitions: Endurance and Ton’s Race.

Students from Poland took second place in the Sardinia Innovative Boat Week competition.

The hydrofoil is fully powered by solar energy. Power is provided by seven solar panels placed on board. The vessel is moved on lift foils. It is a hydrofoil. The lift foils make it so that there is no hull resistance as in the case of a typical boat.

Sardinia Innovative Boat Week is an event that combines sports, sustainability and innovation. The event is attended by hundreds of students and researchers from all over the world.

Photos: Korab Student Science Club, Sardinia Innovative Boat Week.

The Sardinia Innovative Boat Week concluded in Olbia with its inaugural edition, held from October 16 to 19. The event showcased the latest advancements in the nautical sector and ICT control systems, with participation from ten universities, including four from Italy, dedicated to sustainable propulsion research and the construction of hulls using high-tech materials focused on circularity and recycling.

The first prize in the Uniclass category was awarded to the Unige Elettra Team from the University of Genoa, followed by the Adria Hydrofoil Team (University of Rijeka, Croatia) in second place and the Uniboat team from the University of Bologna in third. In the Solar category, the top podium spot was claimed by the AGH Solar Boat Team (AGH University of Science and Technology, Krakow, Poland), while the second and third places went to the GUT Solar Boat Team (Gdańsk University of Technology, Poland) and the Amsicora team from Olbia’s Istituto di Istruzione Superiore, respectively. Notably, Sardinian institutes Amsicora and Deffenu participated with two high-performing Solar (V10) boats.

The award for the most innovative technologies went to the AGH Solar Boat Team from Krakow for their self-built solar components and outstanding communication. Additionally, the international jury gave special recognition to the Spanish team Green Foiling Spain (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid) for their cutting-edge project, which features high commercial potential and the use of structural sensors with fiber optics.