eli5 – Why can’t planes take off/land using fuel but fly using solar power when in flight (daytime)

Question

Surely it would save some carbon emissions if the plane was clad in solar panels and could use solar energy once airborne/above the clouds?

In: 0

Answer 1

There simply is not enough energy in the sunlight that hit a regular airplane to power it, just like a normal car can drive with just solar panels.

Airplanes have been made and cars too that can just be powered by the sun. They do not have the speed cargo capacity etc that would be needed to replace regular cars and airplanes

Look at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_Impulse which is a single pilot and no one else in it. The cruise speed is 70km/h