A self-powering boat is setting off on a six-year around the world journey that begins in Paris. The futuristic-looking craft is designed to use solar panels, wind turbines and a hydrogen fuel cell system to power its trip. The boat, named "Energy Observer," cost over five-billion-dollars to build. It left port today on the River Seine in Paris towards the Atlantic Ocean. The 100-foot-long boat will rely on sun or wind during the day and tap into its hydrogen reservoirs at night. It produces its own hydrogen through electrolysis of sea water. Designers hope the boat will serve as a model for emissions-free energy networks of the future.
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