PROJECT 04

CHASING THE LAKE

PlanetSolar II Expedition on Lake Titicaca

  • A small boat equipped with solar panels on top, mounted on a truck trailer in a desert-like area with a few people observing it.

    Dream it.

    From a bold vision to real-world proof:
    What began as a dream became reality with PlanetSolar II, a refurbished Aquabus T 850 turned solar-powered research vessel.

  • A winding coastal road on a hillside with a boat on a trailer being pulled by a police vehicle. The road has guardrails and there are a few people and vehicles in the distance, with the ocean visible in the background.

    Deliver it.

    After departing Neuchâtel in February 2025, it crossed the Atlantic by cargo ship and was transported to Lake Titicaca—the world’s highest navigable lake.

  • Three people sitting on a boat, enjoying a day on the water under a partly cloudy sky, with land visible in the background.

    Demonstrate it.

    Now fully operational, PlanetSolar II silently glides across the water, demonstrating the power of solar energy at 3,800 meters above sea level.

Sailing the Sun

PlanetSolar II’s Scientific Journey on Lake Titicaca

A boat launch site on a lake with boats, people, and vehicles, surrounded by grassy wetlands and hills in the background.

On April 25, 2025, the Swiss-made solar boat PlanetSolar II was officially launched and handed over to the Binational Authority of Lake Titicaca (ALT) in Puno, Peru, in a ceremony attended by Swiss, Peruvian, and Bolivian dignitaries.

This vessel has been outfitted with scientific instruments to measure water quality and environmental changes in the world’s highest navigable freshwater lake, located at roughly 3,800 meters above sea level.

Over the next two years, under the guidance of oceanographer Xavier Lazzaro, PlanetSolar II will serve as both a research vessel and an educational tool, exploring the effects of pollution and nutrients on phytoplankton growth (referred to as eutrofication) while promoting the effectiveness of solar energy at high altitudes.

The expedition is backed by the PlanetSolar Foundation, the Foundation of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, and other institutional partners, highlighting international cooperation in sustainable innovation and ecological stewardship.

Raphaël Domjan and Claudio von Planta on a boat, with a group of people in the background, sailing on a lake with mountains in the distance, during a sunny day.
Group of six people standing on a rocky shoreline near a boat with the ocean and a tree-covered hill in the background. They are dressed for outdoor activity, smiling, with some giving thumbs up.

The Science

Xavier Lazzaro’s Solutions to Restore Lake Titicaca

Xavier Lazarro, PhD, Zenventures CHASING THE LAKE

Lake Titicaca is facing an environmental emergency.

The Bolivian side, especially the shallow "Lago Menor," is suffering from severe pollution, eutrophication*, and climate change impacts.

Untreated wastewater, industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, and rapid urban growth are degrading the lake’s unique ecosystems.

In response, Dr. Xavier Lazzaro, PhD, outlines 32 comprehensive proposals that integrate engineering, ecological restoration, and societal transformation to address the crisis of Lake Titicaca.

These solutions aim to reverse the lake’s decline through sustainable wastewater treatment, pollution control, and community engagement.

His work forms the scientific foundation of our film project Chasing the Lake.

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*Eutrophication: A process in which water bodies become overly enriched with nutrients—primarily nitrogen and phosphorus—leading to explosive algal growth. As the algae die and decompose, oxygen levels plummet, disrupting aquatic ecosystems and threatening the survival of fish and other aquatic life.

A group of children and a woman on a boat near a dock, with various equipment onboard, on a cloudy day.
Aerial view of a busy harbor with numerous small boats docked in the water, large cargo ships, industrial buildings, and a rocky coastline under a clear blue sky.
A boat being transported on a trailer hitched to a vehicle driving on a winding mountain road, with rocky cliffs and grassy hills under a clear blue sky.
Aerial view of lakes and rolling hills with a road running through the landscape.
A red scientific solar boat named PLANETSOLAR on a blue body of water, carrying several people waving and standing on the deck, with a mountainous landscape in the background.
Three people sitting on a boat, wearing sunglasses, with the ocean and a distant landmass in the background. The woman is smiling and wearing a baseball cap, while the two men are looking at her, one wearing orange sunglasses and the other in dark su
Raphaël Domjan is wearing red sunglasses and a blue jacket on a boat, with a large ship in the background on a sunny day.
A llama standing in a desert landscape with sparse vegetation, with a snow-capped mountain in the background under a clear blue sky.
Public square with a Peruvian flag, palm trees, historic church, and people sitting on benches and walking.
Ancient stone church with detailed carvings and wooden door, against a cloudy sky.
A detailed view of a busy harbor with numerous boats and ships docked and sailing in the blue ocean, with a rugged coastline and a winding road in the foreground.
A winding mountain road with several vehicles, including trucks and cars, traveling through a barren, hilly landscape with dry, brown grass and minimal vegetation.

Contact us for news.

info@zenventures.ch