The maiden test flight of the first ultra-lightweight experimental solar plane, the Solar Impulse, lifted off at a military airport in the Swiss countryside Wednesday.

The plane, designed by a Swiss team headed by Bertrand Piccard, has wings as wide as a Boeing 747. Equipped with 12,000 solar cells, 880 pounds of lithium batteries and four 10 horsepower electric motors, the plane weighs about 3,500 pounds.

Piccard has set his next goal as flying the solar plane around the world in 2012. The main objective is to demonstrate that renewable energy has arrived, and is ready to replace fossil fuel.