Energy Observer: the future of fully sustainable boating passed through Monaco.
- M Abti
- Jul 23
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 25
What about navigating the seas in full respect of marine eco-systems? The energy transition in maritime transport from abstract and futuristic idea has become an ambitious goal. The European Union is being implementing the FuelEU Maritime initiative to promote the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport in order to reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of energy used on board ships up to 80% by 2050. Meanwhile, the European emissions trading scheme (EU ETS) is being applied to meet CO2 reduction targets.
The Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, held at the Yacht Club de Monaco -YCM - from the 1st to the 5th July 2025, made it possible to take a leap into a totally sustainable future through experimentation, innovation and the enthusiastic approach of engineering students. But this year's edition was also characterised by the visit of a truly unique experimental ship. The Energy Observer Catamaran has been moored at the YCM marina throughout the event. This boat represents the synthesis of clean technology being fully powered by a mix of solar, wind, hydro and hydrogen energy produced on-board and with zero emissions.
The vessel is used for research purposes thanks to a real floating laboratory which provides the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge. Ready for a new many-year mission around the globe to study carbon neutrality, its presence at the event allowed an exchange of ideas between researchers and international engineering students who could see the practical implementation of the technologies developed by them within academic projects.
The Energy Observer laboratory has travelled over 68,000 nautical miles since 2017, while visiting more than fifty countries. This is a significant example which showcases that renewable energies can be reliable in meeting the various challenges of maritime navigation, particularly subject to climatic and pollution conditions. As highlighted by Jean Baptiste Sanchez, Captain of the Energy Observer, the vessel is a metaphor itself for sustainable navigation powered by cutting-edge environmentally friendly technology. Besides clean-energy devices, a special aircraft-like sail and a hydrogen tank contribute to the innovation.
Photos (from left to right): 1. The Energy Observer crew; 2. The Energy Observer moored at the Yacht Club de Monaco during the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge; 3. The official poster pf the 12th edition of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge © Yacht Club de Monaco
On the occasion of the United Nations Ocean Conference - UNOC3 - set in Nice from the 9th to the 13th June 2025, Energy Observer unveiled EO3, a new shipping laboratory vessel designed to explore future solutions for marine and energy decarbonisation within a novel ocean adventure 2025-2033, entitled "A journey to Carbon Neutrality".
This new challenge, officially presented on the 6th June 2025 in the presence of Ms. Agnès Pannier-Runacher, French Minister for Ecological Transition, Biodiversity, Forests, the Sea, and Fisheries, aims at collecting reliable and measurable data on the application of new technologies which would form the basis for industrial and regulatory decision makers.
The EO3 floating hub was designed by VPLP Design, naval architecture firm, in partnership with Félix Godard, conceptual and industrial designer. The avant-garde catamaran combines solar panels, four win sails, an ammonia-into-pure-hydrogen converter, an electric propulsion powered by batteries and low- and high-temperature fuel cells (PEM & SOFC) with a combustion engine running on ammonia. It therefore anticipate maritime decarbonisation in line with the International Maritime Organisation - IMO - that set the target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by 70% by 2040, compared to 2008 levels. ***
By Maurice Abbati
Journalist; Editor; Communication, Media and Public Relations Specialist
Lecturer and Author in English language of Technical Articles and the Manual: "Communicating the Environment to Save the Planet, a Journey into Eco-Communication" by Springer International Publishing.
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