LATE next month in Switzerland, the prototype of the world’s first solar aeroplane, Solar Impulse, will be unveiled to the world’s media.

Solar Impulse is expected to have its first test flights next year and to complete a round-the-world trip in 2012.

It will be a remarkable aircraft, with a 64m wing (about the same as an Airbus A340), the weight of a car (about 1.6 tonnes), 11,268 solar cells and four engines with the combined power of a scooter (40CV), The Australian reports.

A cheaper way to produce hydrogen from biofuels has been developed, a step that could overcome some of the critical obstacles blocking the gas’s widespread future use as a green transport fuel.

Hydrogen is often touted as a transport fuel of the future since it produces only water when it is burned. If the gas is produced from sustainably grown biofuels, its use results in very low carbon emissions. Car manufacturers are already developing vehicles that can run on hydrogen fuel cells but moving to a fully-fledged hydrogen transport system requires solving several key issues. These include how to produce the gas efficiently and transport it, which requires very high pressure containers. Building the infrastructure for consumers to fill their cars with hydrogen is another problem.

A new hydrogen-powered car, whose designs will be “open source” and posted for free use on the web, was unveiled today in London. The company behind the Riversimple urban car claim the new model proves hydrogen automotive technology is ready for roll-out now rather than in 10 years’ time.

The open-source approach means entrepreneurs around the world could download the designs and manufacture the two-seater prototype locally for free.