A solar-powered winery on Sikinos

A remote winery on the island of Sikinos in Greece has a spectacular view and more.  It has solar panels on the roof and battery storage, along with the expected large stainless steel wine vats.  Across the world, it’s happening more, away from the grid, it’s economical to be self-sufficient.

The winery is 2.5 kilometres away from the main village, perched high over its terraced vineyard with views of steep island peaks. There’s a tiny church on one peak and, out of view in a valley below, there’s an ancient Roman temple that became a church.  The wine-dark seas of Odysseus are spread in front of you, with islands dotting the broad sweeping horizon.  You can walk the old footpaths of Sikinos, and most of the ancient agricultural terraces are crumbling, but at the winery, the terraces are in repair, and the vines thrive on the moisture from the morning mists. 

Manalis Winery Sikinos

Solar plane circling the globe


Solar Impulse is the only aeroplane of perpetual endurance.  It can fly day and night on solar power, without a drop of fuel. 

Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg flew 40,000 km around the world in the Solar Impulse in 2016. A historic first.

On their sixth leg of this flight, from Chongqing to Nanjing, China, in 2015. Piccard flew 1344 km over 17 hours and 22 minutes.