2024/09/24
Since her launch in 2017, Energy Observer has been proving that renewable energy is a viable option for maritime transportation, thanks to her innovative combination of wind, solar, and hydrogen power. Powered by a mix of renewable energies, the vessel has traveled over 68,000 nautical miles, visited 50 countries, and made 101 stopovers, engaging with diverse stakeholders to advance global decarbonization efforts. The journey was also fueled by the unwavering support of her partners, who shared a commitment to technological innovation and the transition to a low carbon society.
Energy Observer's return to France signals a new chapter in her mission to create a cleaner planet. The team is now focused on developing Energy Observer 3, a laboratory vessel designed to explore advanced technologies for sustainable shipping. In addition, Energy Observer is launching two new educational initiatives: Energy Observer Weekly, a digital platform for energy news and insights, and Energy Observatory, a space for educating and raising awareness on the energy transition.
Energy Observer serves as a floating laboratory for testing and improving cutting-edge energy technologies. The boat's primary energy source is solar power, which is converted into electricity and stored in batteries or hydrogen for use in onboard systems and propulsion.
As a long-time technology partner, Solbian is proud to have contributed to Energy Observer's journey by providing innovative solar panels that have ensured a reliable supply of clean energy. This collaboration has allowed Energy Observer to test photovoltaic solutions in demanding environments and develop improvements for various applications on land and sea.
At the same time, it gave us the opportunity to test our innovations in a real-world environment, refining our techniques and materials. Through feedback and observations from Energy Observer's teams, the company has gained valuable insights into the electrical integration of photovoltaic panels, which has increased our ability to provide customers with optimal solutions.
Sharing Energy Observer’s vision of a greener future, our partnership aims to promote reliable and sustainable photovoltaic solutions. By collaborating closely on research, development, and testing, we are working together to accelerate the adoption of solar power as a clean and efficient energy source.
Energy Observer was originally a laboratory vessel, a genuine research and innovation platform dedicated to the energy transition. It runs on a mix of renewable energies, propulsion wings and a complete hydrogen chain, demonstrating the viability of these decarbonized solutions in a variety of climatic and geographical conditions. Launched in 2017, the vessel has covered more than 68,000 nautical miles, visited 50 countries and made 101 port calls to promote clean, sustainable technologies.
France's first ambassador for the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN, her mission, reinforced by her endowment fund, is to innovate to accelerate the energy transition, explore and share decarbonization solutions, and raise public awareness of energy issues and innovations. Each stopover is an opportunity to collaborate with scientists, industrialists and political decision-makers to understand the world's energy challenges and explore the decarbonization roadmaps of the countries visited.
Energy Observer is also a committed medium, with 13 documentary films broadcast on Canal+ and over 500 videos available online, highlighting sustainable solutions encountered around the world. It has also opened the doors of her exhibition village and ship to more than 350,000 visitors, to raise public awareness in the field.
To accelerate the energy transition, two subsidiaries were created: EODev, world leader in electro-hydrogen power units, and EO Concept, whose main objective is to develop the world's lowest-carbon cargo ship, running on fuel cells and liquid hydrogen. Energy Observer has received the High Patronage of Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic. It has the official support of the Ministry of Ecological Transition, UNESCO, the European Union, Irena, and Ademe.
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