Green hydrogen pontoon unveiled in Monaco

Green hydrogen pontoon unveiled in Monaco – designed to supply teams competing in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge

The Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, this year taking place from 1 to 7 July 2024, is a race with an ambitious finishing line: not just getting there first, but utilising alternative propulsion systems that reduce environmental impact. These could be solar energy, hydrogen, electricity and other renewable energy sources. The competition, which will see the presence of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, has attracted 46 teams from 25 countries, with 31 universities involved.

The latest development in this race – which has been running already for 11 years – is an autonomous green hydrogen pontoon that can supply teams with green hydrogen. The pontoon was unveiled by Yacht Club de Monaco on 21 February 2024 at an event attended by Monaco government officials who confirmed their adherence to the visions of the Sovereign who believes that “faced with the climate emergency, it is imperative that living proof of progress replaces all the promises”.

The pontoon was designed and installed by SBM Offshore, a group supplying services for the offshore oil and gas industry based in Holland. The floating unit has a 20 square metre surface of floating solar panels linked to batteries powering a system that generates hydrogen continuously, with a cylinder fill time of 1 litre per minute. Patrick Ferri from SBM Offshore said, “We produce a litre a minute, so if we do the maths, it will take us just under two months non-stop to fill the 30 bottles required.” The pontoon is primarily a demonstration of how green energy can be harnessed and converted, currently with no intentions of industrial development. “An ever-increasing demand for safe, sustainable, affordable energy presents one of the biggest challenges of our time,” said Francesco Prazzo, General Manager of SBM Offshore. “As offshore pioneers, we are convinced the oceans hold the key to meet an urgent need for low-carbon solutions, with hydrogen being part of that response.”

Yacht Club de Monaco‘s commiment to sustainability is also shown by its efforts to recycle water from its swimming pool, filled using a closed circuit instead of using drinking water as was done previously. Over one million litres of water have already been treated in this way. An analogous system is used to clean boats. All these operations are proof of the success of YCM’s environmental policy that aims to get everyone thinking about the impact their choices have on the environment.