A countdown on three screens in the Great Hall at Técnico’s Alameda campus… until the clock struck 00:00, triggering applause. This marked the presentation of the seventh and latest prototype from Técnico Solar Boat (TSB), a students’ organisation specialising in the development of boats powered by renewable energy. Eight by 2.5 metres in size and with the highest power at national level (built by students), the São Gabriel 01 (SG01) couldn’t be unveiled in the Great Hall (because it wouldn’t fit through the doors), but it was cheered later, at the end of the ceremony, in the front façade of the Main Building.

With a capacity for accommodating three crew members, the SG01 is the vessel that has required the most of TSB’s time and effort to date. Its development began in 2022, featuring approximately four square metres of solar panels that power ten battery packs weighing around 120 kilograms, resulting in a total of 520 volts on board.

The president of Técnico, Rogério Colaço, praised the TSB members, stating, “you have surpassed everything and everyone with this fantastic work”. He expressed gratitude for the students’ efforts, “these projects fill Técnico with pride – as president, I have nothing else to say but thank you for the fantastic work of our students”. The president compared the students’ organisations to companies, noting the continuous change in staff as students graduate and new ones enroll, which adds complexity to management.

“TSB has something that I think is particularly important and significant”, said professor Rogério Colaço. “It represents the commitment that technology has to sustainability”, a principle that has always guided TSB’s actions, he recalled.

This is a moment of ‘great pride’ for Miguel Gil, Team Leader of TSB. ‘2025 marks ten years of the project, a decade of commitment to sustainable mobility’, supported by students from various study programmes, including Master’s Programmes in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Aerospace Engineering and Engineering and Management of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Miguel Gil reviewed the fleet the TSB has developed since 2015, which includes three vessels in the São Rafael class (solar), two in the São Miguel class (hydrogen) and one in the São Pedro class (unmanned and one of the prototypes featured in an exhibition at the Navy’s Operational Experimentation Centre in April).

The SG01 boat reveal took place in the car park, in the front façade of the Main Building, surrounded by attendees, who watched the president of Técnico climb aboard. Many people wanted to touch the carbon fibre hull, curious about its texture – it’s not every day that a vessel of this size is showcased in front of the Main Building.

Founded in 2015, Técnico Solar Boat’s mission is to develop boats powered by renewable energy, representing both Portugal and Técnico in international competitions. The team annually participates in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge – the world’s leading competition for sustainable boats – where teams and companies from around the world compete in tests of speed, manoeuvrability and endurance. The team’s achievements include two international second places in this competition with solar prototypes, as well as honours for innovation relating to their advancements in hydrogen and sustainable construction practices. The team has also stood on the podium in autonomous vessel competitions such as the Njord Autonomous Ship Challenge, which they won in 2022 and secured second place in 2021, 2023 and 2024.

Photo gallery.