A Swiss aviator and scientist, Dr Bertrand Piccard, is to develop a revolutionary solar-powered aircraft that could circumnavigate the Earth.
He plans to fly the plane in 2007 with Mr Brian Jones, his collaborator in the first manned balloon flight to circle the Earth non-stop in 1999.
The fast-talking, French-speaking president of the Winds of Hope Foundation certainly electrified the audience at the energy conference in Geneva with his vision of marrying sustainable development and cutting-edge technology.
Dr Piccard admitted he could never imagine "400 people getting into a solar-powered plane", but he said the project was bound to have practical applications, such as in the design of light-weight, more fuel-efficient cars.
The project is being supported by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. However, it will need significant corporate sponsorship to fund the construction of a prototype solar-powered aircraft.
Dr Piccard said the greatest challenge would be to devise a way of storing solar power absorbed during daylight hours so that the plane could continue flying through the night.
