This article was first published in Hungarian on the website of our sister publication Magyar Krónika.

The Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) solar boat team participated in their second competition this year, held in Balatonalmádi. Their solar-powered boat named Lana competed in several events as part of the Solar Boat Challenge. They completed the 42-kilometre Endurance race in 4 hours and 37 minutes, and reached a speed of 23 kilometres per hour in the Speed race.

In an interview with bme.hu, BME‘s solar boat team captain Csaba Boros shared that they had finished in fifth place at the season’s first race in Monaco, amidst fierce competition. However, due to technical issues with the motor cooling system during the Balatonalmádi race, they could only secure ninth place. Boros added that they plan to compete in another race in Italy later in the season.

In addition to BME, Hungary was also represented by the University of Pannonia in Veszprém, with the majority of the teams coming from the Netherlands. Solar boat construction has a strong tradition in the Netherlands, where not only universities but also secondary schools actively participate in this unique competition. The most prestigious races are also held there, and BME‘s team hopes to have the opportunity to compete in these renowned events in the coming years.

Developing solar-powered boats presents unique engineering challenges, as designers must balance the boat’s weight, the efficient use of solar energy, speed, and stability. Cooling the motors is crucial, as significant heat is generated during long-distance races, which must be effectively managed to ensure reliable performance. The Hungarian solar boat team uses cutting-edge technologies in their boat construction and continuously improves their systems to remain competitive in the international arena.

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