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Brazilian students build innovative solar-powered vessel, demonstrating that the future of technology and sustainability is in the hands of the new generation.
Os students from Ciep 218 Minister Hermes Lima, in Duque de Caxias, are showing the potential of sustainable technology. Participating in the Brazil Solar Challenge in Búzios, they built an innovative solar-powered vessel. Using photovoltaic modules, these young visionaries demonstrate that solar energy is a viable alternative for a more sustainable future.
Brazilian students create solar-powered boat for competition in Búzios
Ciep students are demonstrating that the future of technology and sustainability is in the hands of the new generation. They participate in Brazil Solar Challenge, an exciting competition that takes place in Búzios, in the Lagos Region.
To stand out, these students built an impressive six-meter-long catamaran, powered exclusively by solar energy. The vessel, affectionately called Margô, uses three photovoltaic modules to capture sunlight and transform it into fuel, showing that it is possible to navigate without harming the environment.
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TOYS
Organized by the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) through the Interdisciplinary Center for Social Development (NIDES), the Solar Brazil Challenge brings together high school and university students in a daily regatta competition.
A competition started on Sunday (21) and ended the following Sunday (28), with teams accumulating points according to their performance in each event. It is a ecological version and sustainable approach to traditional sailing competitions, but with a difference: all vessels are solar powered.
The Ciep 218 team and Margô
The Ciep 218 team is made up of 16 dedicated students, who invested time and effort in the construction and development of Margô. The solar-powered vessel is equipped with batteries, a bilge pump in each hull, anchor, tow cable, life jacket and a buoyancy reserve.
The design of the catamaran, with its two parallel hulls, guarantees stability and efficiency in navigation. Only one pilot is needed to operate the Margô, which makes it an agile and practical vessel for regattas.
The Brazil Solar Challenge in Schools is more than a simple competition; is a national initiative that aims to establish partnerships with educational institutions to develop sustainable technologies and promote the preservation of the environment. For Ciep 218 students, building a solar-powered vessel was an enriching and fun educational experience.
Marcella Freire, Physical Education teacher responsible for the program at the school, highlights the importance of practical learning: “I can say that there is no comparison between the level of learning of the class that uses practice as a methodology with that which is limited to theoretical study”.
Student Joshua Gabriel Rosa da Silva, aged 16, agrees: “The project is a way of gaining access to less popular professions, meeting people who use sustainable energy as a source of income and raising awareness about the need for the energy transition”.
The impact of solar energy on education
Participating in a project like the Brazil Solar Challenge offers students a unique opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in practical situations, while at the same time developing valuable skills for the future.
Solar energy, as a clean and renewable source, not only propels vessels in competition, but also inspires students to consider careers in sustainability-related fields and technological innovation.
The participation of Ciep 218 students in the Solar Brazil Challenge is an inspiring example of how education can be transformative when combined with practical and sustainable projects. The construction of Margô, a solar-powered vessel, demonstrates the potential of renewable energy and the ability of young people to contribute to a greener and more technological future.
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