le « Sicambre » revient plus vert
What is it about ? Propulsion pitch: the propeller will continue to turn thanks to the diesel fuel. But of a hybrid production system, designed by the Arcachon company E-Nautic, and which will act on the biggest pole of consumption, the electricity generated on board. Because the boat-restaurant (140 seats) is greedy in energy, hitherto produced by the generator, therefore diesel.
“We are counting on a saving of 21,000 liters of diesel per year. That is about half of our consumption, or 55 tonnes of CO2 per year”
Less fossil energy
Syméon Gurnade and Hervé Frouin, director of E-Nautic, detail the new system. Eight batteries removed, which will then be recharged from the company’s pontoon, Quai des Chartrons. A “new generation” generator, smaller than the old one, placed on the port side. The on-board electronics include software that directly manages the different flows according to needs, to optimize consumption. In the end, less fossil energy, less gas emissions.
“We are counting on a saving of 21,000 liters of diesel per year, says Syméon Gurnade. That’s about half of our consumption, or 55 tonnes of CO2 per year. “Battery power is still much cheaper than via the generator,” says Hervé Frouin. But above all, it is more respectful of the environment, cleaner and quieter. »
“The cost of this operation is around 200,000 euros. It’s a big investment but we expect to pay it off in ten years. We could not have done it without the financial assistance of public partners, the Voies navigables de France and Ademe (Agency for the environment and energy management, editor’s note)”, explains Syméon Gurnade. The director recalls that the transition of the “Sicambre” is part of a long-term approach of the river company, which involves the electrification of its Chartrons pontoon (built in 2016) and other virtuous actions: sorting selective, recycling, use of local producers…
On the renewable energy side, the roof of the boat-restaurant has been equipped with four photovoltaic panels since 2021. But this remains a limited source, which supplies the “services” on board (safety lighting, wheelhouse).
A new boat for fall 2022
When will a propulsion also be electric? “This will be the next construction site for this ship, predicts the director. We will address it in a few years, when the heat engine will have had its day. In the meantime, the relaunch of the flagship should relaunch the 2022 tourist season, after two years of reduced activity due to Covid. The “Sicambre” carried around 40,000 passengers in 2019, but less than 15,000 in 2020 and 30,000 in 2021.
BRC’s ambitions do not stop there since the red and black fleet should be enriched in the fall of 2022 with a fourth ship, the “Sirius” (150 passengers), whose construction has begun in a Doubs shipyard. . “It will be hybrid, or perhaps entirely electric, it is being considered,” says Syméon Gurnade.