Student-built boats powered entirely by the sun will take to the water this weekend as the California Solar Regatta returns for its 13th year at Rancho Seco Recreational Area, showcasing innovation, engineering and renewable energy in action.
Hosted by Sacramento Municipal Utility District, the two-day event will feature high school and college teams from across the region and state competing in full-sized, solar-powered boats they designed and built themselves. The regatta is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, May 1–2, with racing open to the public.
More than 570 students are participating this year, including 365 high school students across 13 teams and 207 college students representing eight teams. In total, 26 custom-built solar boats will compete in a series of events that test both performance and design.
High school teams will take the water Friday, followed by college competitors on Saturday. Throughout the event, teams will compete in sprint, slalom and endurance races, along with a judged presentation component that evaluates engineering design and innovation.
Racing is set to run from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, with a midday break from noon to 1 p.m. each day. Winners across categories will earn prizes, with top overall performers awarded the regatta cup.
The event is part of SMUD’s broader effort to connect students with real-world applications of science, technology, engineering and math. By building solar-powered vessels, students apply classroom knowledge to hands-on challenges while gaining exposure to potential careers in clean energy and advanced technology fields.
SMUD, a community-owned, not-for-profit electric service provider, continues to emphasize renewable energy education as it works toward its goal of eliminating carbon emissions from its power supply by 2030. The utility reported its energy mix was approximately 62 percent carbon-free in 2024, with ongoing investments in sustainable technologies and energy efficiency programs.
The California Solar Regatta is free and open to the public, offering spectators a chance to see student innovation on display while enjoying a unique and competitive event on the water. Additional information is available at smud.org/solar-regatta.
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