# Solar-Powered Blimps Projet Sol'r Nephelios Looks to Conquer the English Channel By Andrew Robichaud | Published 2009-08-07 | Autos Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solar-powered-nephelios References: [gizmag](http://www.gizmag.com/nephelios-solar-airship/12454/) & [projetsolr.over-blog](http://projetsolr.over-blog.com/) The world’s first solar-powered blimp is ready to tackle the English Channel. A group of French students created Projet Sol’r in an attempt to build and fly a solar-powered blimp. The result was the solar-powered Nephelios. Projet Sol’r and Nephelios has been a two-year process that has led the team to a 22-foot blimp that can travel at speeds between 30-35 kilometers per hour. Projet Sol’r has grown to around 50 students, all putting in countless hours trying to get the solar-powered Nephelios ready for its maiden voyage. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.8/10 - Popularity: 33% | Activity: 12% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 90% men, 10% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Autos](https://www.trendhunter.com/autos) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Solar-powered Transportation:** Building solar-powered blimps could inspire the development of other solar-powered modes of transportation. - **Clean Energy Innovation:** The creation of the solar-powered blimp highlights the potential for clean energy innovation and its application in various industries. - **Sustainable Aviation:** The solar-powered blimp exemplifies the potential for sustainable aviation by harnessing renewable energy sources for flight. ### Who This Affects Most - **Transportation:** The transportation industry can explore the integration of solar power in different modes of transportation to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. - **Renewable Energy:** The renewable energy industry can leverage the development of solar-powered blimps to expand the use of clean energy technologies. - **Aviation:** The aviation industry can explore the adoption of sustainable and eco-friendly technologies such as solar-powered aircraft to reduce carbon emissions. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Solar-Powered Electric Boats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solarpowered-electric-boat.md) - [Zero-Emission Solar-Powered Aircrafts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/falcon-horizon.md) - [Eco-Friendly Stratospheric Aircrafts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sceye-haps.md) - [Solar-Powered Sleek Bikes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-solaris.md) - [Solar-Powered Private Catamarans](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zen50.md) - [Renewable Energy Aircrafts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solarpowered-aircraft.md) - [Solar Panel-Covered Boat Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ms-porrima-concept-boat.md) - [Solar-Powered Blankets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solarpowered-blanket.md) - [Emissions-Free Electric Leisure Boats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gosun-elcat-solar-electric-boat.md)