Abu Dhabi: The Solar Impulse 2 will not be flying again this year, requiring several months of repair to its damaged batteries caused by overheating on its last journey.

The delay comes as a major blow, with the aircraft originally scheduled to end its round the world flight at the end of this month, or early August. The Solar Impulse 2 is now scheduled to continue its journey some time in April 2016.

The Solar Impulse team made the following statement regarding the delay, “Despite the hard work of the Solar Impulse team to repair the batteries which overheated in the record-breaking oceanic flight from Negoya to Hawaii, the solar-powered aeroplane of Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg will stay in Hawaii until early Spring 2016.”

Explaining how the batteries were damaged, the team said that the batteries’ “temperature increased due to a high climb rate and an over-insulation of the gondolas…There was no way to decrease the temperature for the remaining duration.” The team also added that the overheating occurred on the very first ascent of the aircraft.

The team was also keen to note that the damage to the batteries was not because of a “technical failure” or a problem with the technology being used by the aircraft, but was due to the cooling design specifications of the batteries that were used.

Andre Borschberg, CEO of Solar Impulse, who was in charge of flying the aircraft from Nagoya to Hawaii, said that the latest setback was just another challenge to overcome. “Since we left Abu Dhabi [in] early March we had so many obstacles that we had to overcome…All the obstacles that we have found and had to overcome, I guess this just made us stronger. We have the commitment to complete this flight around the world next year.”

The aircraft will remain grounded at a hanger in Kalaeloa airport, Hawaii, for the duration of its repairs. Once all post-maintenance checks are complete, the aeroplane will continue its planned journey from Hawaii.

The Solar Impulse 2 originally began its flight on March 9, leaving from Abu Dhabi.