We float nearly silently, propelled only by the sun, zero-emission over the water through the City of Berlin. At the buffet allures delicious food. The vegetable shines in intense colours. From the bar beezes the smell of fresh coffee. Lounge atmosphere invites for relaxing with bright colours. It´s silent. A bird sings it´s song at the waterfront. The nature smells of freshness and water. Quietly get out the noises of the city. Ahead springs the Berlin TV tower. On the left waits the bath vessel at the river Spree for it´s guests and on the right springs the storage buildings of the east harbour with the Universal building and the new fashion Center. In front of us goes a yellow subway train over the beautiful bridge Oberbaumbrücke with it´s red brick architecture.

For that scenario we do not have to wait any longer. For experience technologies, architecture and design of tomorrow you do not have to travel to Silicon Valley. From June you can experience Solon - a solar catamaran at sundays either from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with Jazz Brunch or from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. with Spree Lounge at the vessel. Carbon footprint per kilometer: zero grams. Fuel consumption per hour: zero grams. Of course you can charter the Solon exclusively, too. Start: Pier Radialsystem (near East Side Gallery and Ostbahnhof).

The brunch will be accompanied by excellent musicians like Boris Rosenthal, who´s music for soul of Classics, Jazz and Klezmer sounds regularly in the Berlin philharmonic hall.

By now Berlin is not only a capital of arts, music, film and fashion but rather a center of development for high-technology of tomorrow.

Specially in Berlin-Adlershof concentrate reserch laboratories for solar technology and modern accumulator batteries. Just the building of the head quarter of Solon - one of the big producers of solar modules and solar power stations - is a Mekka and paradise for architects. In the building is not only the head quarter but a production line of the brand Solon SE, too. The freehanded design, openess and modern labour organization we would expect rather in Silicon Valley than in Berlin. In direct neighbourhood develops and tests Younicos modern battery technology. The reserchers plan to start tests and simulations first in a large-scale test from septembr 2010. Until 2013 the island Graciosa from the Azores shell be fully powered by renewable energy. Than no more oil tanker should be necessary to fuel the island. The batteries of Younicos are the key for the success of the project.

Not far of Berlin-Adlershof in Berlin-Schöneweide the naval architect Thomas Meyer realised his vison of a future vessel. He succeeded building a vessel which went in 2007 without combustion engine - only with the power of the sun from Basel via Rotterdam to New York City in 29 days. Now it seemed possible building a vessel for professional application zero-emission and without fossil energy. The plan was realised and the Berlin company Solarwaterworld AG built a solar powered catamaran, which was inducted in autum of last year.

The Solon goes nearly noiseless, low-vibration and zero-emission. It´s secrets are a ultralight construction, current optimised underwater ship, effective solar modules as well as high performance batteries.

Maximum speed: 8 knots - 15 km/h
Range with sun: unlimited
Range without sun: 10 hours
Length over all: 17,60 m
Width: 6,85 m
Draft: 1 m
Empty weigth: 13.000 kg
Engine: 2x8kW Kräutler-Electromotor, noiseless and low vibration
Solarmodules: 24 High-efficiency solar modules Solon SE with until 215 Wp/module, 5.16 kW
Battteries: 48 Volt/2x 480 A