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98 | BLUE INNOVATIONS

THE BLUE TRANSITION
Yachting has an energy

revolution

The energy transition was a central topic during conferences and

discussions at this annual event, which is highly anticipated by

yachting stakeholders keen on securing a sustainable future.

The Monaco Yacht Club devised a new format for the Named the first French ambassador of Sustainable
10 environmental symposium “La Belle Classe Su- Development Goals by the Ministry of the Energy and
th
peryachts” which took place on 25 March 2021 on Solidarity Transition, Energy Observer is continuing its
the theme of “New energies and carbon emissions: energy odyssey towards the Pacific, where a second
yachting focused on the future”. Six speakers shared experimental vessel is being prepared.
their expertise during this day of lively conferences
and debates at the Yacht Club, broadcast live to a
large audience of users online.

ENERGY OBSERVER,
A LABORATORY BOAT
The symposium started with a presentation of a re-
newable energy laboratory catamaran, Energy Ob-
server, which has sailed the seas since 2017. It is
energy self-sufficient due to a mix of hydrogen, solar,
wind and hydroelectric power.

“We test all these technologies in extreme conditions
so they can be applied on a large scale and by eve-
ryone”, explained the captain Victorien Erussard.
There are some 200 m² of solar panels on this first
zero-emissions vessel. Some take the shape of hulls,
others, with non-slip surfaces, are used as coverings,
others are vertical or placed upside down, transfor-
ming the sun’s reflections off the deck into energy. © mesi
“We also tested vertical wind turbines and a traction
kite, but the wings inspired by the technology used by
boats in the America’s Cup combined with mini-tur-
bines convinced us: we save between 18 and 32%
energy!” the vessel’s captain revealed enthusiastical-
ly, having travelled more than 10,000 nautical miles
in 2020.