Review of the 9th Monaco Energy Boat challenge » PACA’s economic and political newsletter
Saturday July 9, 2022. History repeats itself, only the characters change.
Nearly 120 years after the first gatherings of motorboats, Monaco is once again the spectator and the actor of unprecedented innovations with the 9th Monaco Energy Boat Challenge. Organized by the Yacht Club of Monaco in collaboration with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, and the competition of Credit Suisse, BMW and SBM Offshore and the Oceanco shipyard, this meeting of new propulsions is part of the collective umbrella brand “Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting”.
“If Monaco wants to position itself at the forefront of Yachting, the Principality must support its transformation. It is only by combining our efforts and sharing our technological progress that we will achieve our objective”, declared HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, President of the YCM who made a point of coming to meet the 38 teams and 36 exhibitors. present this week at the Yacht Club of Monaco alongside explorer Mike Horn.
Pierre Casiraghi, Vice-President of the Club, navigator and founder of Team Malizia also recalled the importance of hosting this kind of meeting in the Principality “it’s essential for the future of yachting, it allows us to develop and ‘to exchange ideas’. A feeling shared by Bernard d’Alessandri, Secretary General of the YCM “The Monaco Energy Boat Challenge is a fairly rare opportunity since it brings together professionals and engineering students from all over the world and where everyone exchanges their knowledge. It is certainly one of the best ways to contribute to the transition that is coming. Monaco has always been one of the top places for yachting since its existence. We have a responsibility to try to move towards more eco-responsible yachting for our planet, for the oceans and for the new generation”.
It was therefore a question of sharing ideas in Open Source, confrontation in the field, debates, Job Forum promoting meetings between young engineers and professionals in the sector, but also new things. Back to a ninth edition that met all expectations.
AN INTERNATIONAL CROSSROADS
38 teams (21 nations) including 27 universities divided into three categories (Solar, Energy and Open Sea Class) were present this year with unprecedented participation like those of the Indians (Sea Sakhti) from the Kumaraguru College of Technology, supported by the Indian navigator Abhilash Tomy came for the occasion. “I am so proud to see my country represented. India supports new energy sources, particularly with regard to mobility. Many initiatives relate to the automotive sector but not yet really in the field of yachting. I hope these students will return to India with many ideas because at least 10% of fishing boats in India could use electric propulsion for example”. This is the first time that an Indian team has taken part in an international motorboating event. Peru, Greece, Indonesia and Canada also made the trip, each with the firm intention of unveiling its solution and its prototype. Each team was not only able to confront each other at sea but also share their project every day at the end of the afternoon during Open Source tech talks.
SOLIDARITY WITHOUT BORDERS
A veritable laboratory of innovation and beyond the competition, the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge encourages mutual aid between teams. Victim of engine and battery failure, the Canadians and Peruvians trained by lending each other parts. As for the Italians from Uniboat, 2021 winners in the Energy Class, they came to lend a hand to the Canadians to restore their boat. A gesture that the competitors from across the Atlantic are not ready to forget “the atmosphere of solidarity reigns everywhere on the quays. We were able to benefit from the help of Uniboat, in order to solve small technical problems. We are very grateful for the time they gave us as well as for all the knowledge imparted. We can confirm it to you; Unity is strength ! This enriching experience remains etched in our memories forever! “.
INGENIOSITY AT THE APPOINTMENT
Finally, some designs are indicative of developments in the world before and after Covid. Nearly 50% of the teams have adapted their projects to minimize transport costs and also their environmental footprint by innovating on boats that can be dismantled, foldable or even by succeeding, for some, in bringing it in their suitcases, like the people of Dubai. of Sailing Tigers while the Canadians of Exocet opted for another solution. “We had to pack the parts in a minimum of space since everything was sent by plane. And finally, everything went into a box about 1.5 m long,” explains Olivier Tessier, mechanical engineer in the team.
2022 the vintage of all possibilities
The Innovation Prize goes to the Portuguese team Técnico Solar Boat (Energy Class). “By dint of working on hydrogen, we have been able to see real innovations in the field, in particular with Técnico Solar Boat (Energy Class), which has developed a system for dehumidifying the hydrogen and gases that pass through the fuel cell. notes the President of the International Jury, Jérémie Lagarrigue, CEO of EODev. “The other striking innovations of this edition are the highlighting of eco-design with the use of bamboo, linen fibre, recycled PET on machines that are nevertheless full of technology. The students thus develop the skills necessary for the yachting of tomorrow with life cycle analyzes that will become real guides in the design of the ships of the future. The advances also concerned the propellers with the appearance of winglets (fins) on increasingly efficient airfoils to deliver nearly 80% efficiency compared to 50% in the industry today.
In Energy Class (category in which the hulls are supplied by the YCM, and where the competitors choose their energy solution with no emissions in use) the amount of energy on board has been doubled to reach 10 kWh. A criterion that has drastically changed the face of racing since the boats have become undeniably faster. Overall, the teams worked on existing projects, improved them and strengthened them so as to raise the general level up a notch for this 9th edition.
MONACO, INNOVATION INCUBATOR
Alongside the competitors, 36 exhibitors have come to the Principality this year to showcase their progress. The bay of Monaco thus welcomed around fifty units: a record never equaled! Distributed in the Village being dedicated to them, these professionals shed light on their project like SBM Offshore, a company based in Monaco and in the running for the 4th consecutive year. Their pontoon, which produces green hydrogen from renewable energies, was moored in the YCM Marina with the addition of floating photovoltaic panels as a novelty. Hydrogen provided authorization to their SBM E-Racing Team, engaged in the Energy Class, to restock to take part in the events at sea. Between exhibitors and competitors, there is only one step since of the eight teams registered in Open Sea Class (boats or about to be), all were exhibitors.
In addition, the Paddocks were the scene of some novelties, such as the flexible solar fabrics of Solar Cloth covering two structures with foldable photovoltaic modules. Referenced in the Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina e-catalogue, this device is intended to encourage users to use this technology while at anchor rather than turning on their generator, and thus avoid nuisance in terms of pollution, noise, vibration. Associated with this, floating solar pontoons allowing the electricity produced to be reinjected into the YCM network have also been installed in the YCM Marina in partnership with the SMEG. While in terms of hydrogen, EODev presented a 100kVA zero-emission electro-hydrogen generator GEH2 that can provide off-grid electricity like a generator, but without any pollution.
EXPERT DEBATES
On land, the speeches occupied the attention in particular during the conference day entitled “New Energies in Yachting: Opportunities and Limits”. Highlighting the issues of renewable and alternative energies, their evolution, their promises for the future, the meeting was also able to examine their production on board while considering yachting as a vast field of experimentation from which advances are born. which contributes to the metamorphosis of the sector.
The next day, experts and specialists met for the 3rd round table of the Monaco Hydrogen Working Group entitled “Unlocking the barriers to hydrogen in the maritime sector: port regulations & economic viability of projects”. Organized in collaboration with the Mission for Energy Transition Monaco, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and the Yacht Club of Monaco, it made it possible to draw up an inventory of the hydrogen market, its regulations and its funding.
COURSES AT SEA AND IN THE DIGITAL WORLD
At the forefront of new propulsion systems, the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge must be present in the digital world. This is how a new communication platform was created, mixing reality in a digital setting. Inaugurated by Frédéric Genta, Interministerial Delegate for Attractiveness and Digital Transition in the Government of the Principality of Monaco, it is a promise for the future “Monaco is modern. It must develop its economy with digital. The Principality brings together many growth sectors of activity, but to continue to grow, it must be accompanied by this technology. Digital is a plus in the value of an economy”. Making it possible to open the event to the greatest number of enthusiasts or experts without distance constraints, it used the UNREAL 5 rendering engine, an engine used today in the world of online video games, which has the main advantage of offering the most immersive and qualitative experience.
We also find on this platform, the course simulator video game made by young students who previously participated in the test. The objective is to give the possibility to whoever wishes to live the unique experience of a race in a solar boat!
9th EDITION AWARDS
The Monaco Energy Boat Challenge is therefore synonymous with progress but also with performance. Dominating in Energy Class, the Italians of UniBoat (University of Bologna) retain their title just like the Dutch of Sunflare victorious in Solar Class. The Brits from Vita Yachts – Lion complete the Open Sea list.
Everyone is already looking towards the 10th edition of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge (July 5-8, 2023). Until then, yachting professionals will meet for the 2nd edition of the Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendez-vous (September 25-26, 2022) whose desire to build the future of low-carbon yachting, both in terms of boats and the infrastructure that could accommodate them: namely virtuous marinas.