Solvay celebrates the achievement of Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, who today completed their world flight at the controls of Solar Impulse 2 (Si2). The return to Abu Dhabi, at the end of a 40,000 kilometre journey on just the sun’s energy, marks the culmination of an incredible adventure in which Solvay has been involved right from the start.

In a letter addressed to the two pilots at the occasion of their landing in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, CEO of Solvay, thanked them on behalf of the Group’s employees.

“On behalf of all Solvay employees, I would like to say a huge thank you for these 12 extraordinary years, marked with dreams, challenges, big and small technological victories. These 12 years were supported by your energy and remarkable personalities which built the success of Solar Impulse day after day,” he wrote to them.

Ever since Solvay became the first partner of Solar Impulse in 2004 it dedicated its expertise and innovation capacities to this project. Fifteen Solvay products applied in more than 6,000 parts enable the storage and optimal consumption of energy and lightweight the solar plane. Moreover, Solvay supplied the composite materials for the wing spars and rear stabilizer parts.

"All limits of materials we have pushed further to make this plane fly with you, reinforce our belief that chemistry provides effective solutions for the sustainable development of our societies. Our Group aspires more than ever to remain a bridge between science and sustainable progress. Yes, we can ask more from chemistry!,” he added.

Almost all products that were developed for this “flying lab” are already available in our daily lives in markets ranging from automotive, aviation and aerospace to construction and smart devices.

Solvay Group

An international chemical and advanced materials company, Solvay assists its customers in innovating, developing and delivering high-value, sustainable products and solutions which consume less energy and reduce CO2 emissions, optimize the use of resources and improve the quality of life. Solvay serves diversified global end markets, including automotive and aerospace, consumer goods and healthcare, energy and environment, electricity and electronics, building and construction as well as industrial applications. Solvay is headquartered in Brussels with about 30,900 employees spread across 53 countries. It generated pro forma net sales of € 12.4 bn in 2015, with 90% made from activities where it ranks among the world’s top 3 players. Solvay SA (SOLB.BE) is listed on Euronext in Brussels and Paris (Bloomberg: SOLB:BB - Reuters: SOLB.BR).