ABB and Solar Impulse show that a clean energy future is achievable now

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Apr 15, 2016, 09:00 ET

HONOLULU, April 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- As Hawaii embarks on the complex transition from a fossil-fueled past to a clean energy future, Solar Impulse prepares to leave for the mainland US and the continuation of its historic around the world journey. For Solar Impulse and technology partner ABB, the flight is already proving that renewables are a reliable power source.

Anahola solar array on Kauai Island, featuring ABB technology in the Battery Energy Storage System

By flying halfway around the world on solar power alone, Solar Impulse has already proven that it is possible to produce a stable, 24/7 electricity supply using only renewable energy. On the ground, ABB, a world leader in power and microgrid technologies, is helping remote communities and islands like Hawaii to meet and sustain their own energy needs by incorporating renewable and clean energy technologies into the power grid.

Powered only by energy from the sun, Solar Impulse will soon begin the second part of its epic 40,000-kilometer flight around the world, taking off from Kalealoa Airport in Hawaii for the mainland United States. The Aloha State is a leader among all 50 states by pledging to power its islands with 100% renewable energy sources by 2045. ABB technology is already helping Hawaii with that goal as a part of Kauai island's Battery Energy Storage System, which helps to maintain a stable power supply and provides instant backup power in the event of unplanned outages.¹

"One of our goals for this historic round-the-world journey and for our technology partnership with Solar Impulse is to demonstrate that you can separate economic growth from environmental impact with help from smarter and more sustainable technologies," said Greg Scheu, president, Americas region, ABB. "Renewable energy, microgrids, battery storage, higher efficiency standards -- these all show that we can power the world without consuming the earth."

"What we have on Solar Impulse is a system that captures its own energy, converts it into electricity, and stores it and manages its consumption in a sustainable way," said Solar Impulse pilot and CEO, André Borschberg. "This is exactly what ABB is doing on the ground with its distributed energy resources or microgrids."

"If Solar Impulse can fly day and night around the world with no fossil fuel, it demonstrates that these technologies are now mature and ready for the market so everyone can use them," said Solar Impulse pilot and chairman, Bertrand Piccard. "ABB gives credibility to what we are doing, because it is doing it on the ground."

Follow the historic flight path at www.abb.com/betterworld and find out what ABB is doing on the ground and what Solar Impulse is doing in the air.

ABB (www.abb.com) is a leading global technology company in power and automation that enables utility, industry, and transport & infrastructure customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in roughly 100 countries and employs about 135,000 people. ABB's Americas operations, headquartered in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina, employ more than 25,000 people in multiple manufacturing, engineering, service and other major facilities.

¹ https://library.e.abb.com/public/e252f33e0b2942a2a0b4a117cd2d7e41/42-49%204m589_EN_72dpi.pdf (page 42)

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