Evening Lecture: Solar Boat Twente – from Solar to Methanol
Curious about the future of sustainable maritime technology?
On 20 May 2025, student team Solar Boat Twente will reveal the technology behind the next step in their mission to make the maritime sector more sustainable. After years of developing solar-powered boats, the team is now taking on a bold new challenge: building a boat powered by green methanol.
Unlike solar energy, methanol is not dependent on environmental conditions and requires relatively little space, making it a powerful and promising fuel for clean maritime transport. To enable this transition, the team is replacing the combustion engine with a fuel cell system – an innovative leap that opens up new design and engineering possibilities. Some critics argue that methanol still emits CO₂, and is therefore not truly green. But the team disagrees. Their goal is to use green methanol – produced either from plant-based biomass or synthesized using CO₂ captured directly from the air.
This it what the team says:
Go Greener: From Solar to Methanol
Solar energy — the ultimate green solution, right?
Well… not always.
At Solar Boat Twente, we are making a bold move: we are leaving solar energy behind and switching to methanol.
Sounds crazy? You’re probably thinking: How can methanol possibly be greener than solar energy?
At Solar Boat Twente, our mission is to make a real impact — to push the boundaries of what sustainable energy can look like in the maritime world and beyond.
Switching to methanol is not a step back — it’s a step forward into a future where clean, practical solutions can truly change the world.
On May 20th, we will tell you the full story.
Why methanol is not just an alternative, but actually a cleaner, smarter, and more scalable solution for a sustainable future.
And why we are proud to be the first to make this leap.
Curious? See you there!
Programme
- 18:50–19:10 Walk-in & networking
- 19:15–20:30 Lecture by Solar Boat Twente
- 20:30 End
