Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) continues ramping up its efforts to use technology to assist in safeguarding the environment following the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations and under the aegis of the collective’s “Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting” strategy. The most recent event, which was witnessed by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, saw the debut of the first autonomous green hydrogen pontoon, which can provide eight teams with green hydrogen and fill thirty cylinders in advance of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge this July.
“The Monaco Energy Boat Challenge was launched 11 years ago. It is very satisfying to see how far we have progressed. Even with limited resources it is now possible to produce green hydrogen.”
Bernard d’Alessandri, YCM General Secretary.
The goal of YCM’s presentation of the pontoon is to position Monaco as a leader in environmentally conscious yachting. Those in attendance included Ministers of Public Works, the Environment, and Urban Development Céline Caron-Dagioni, Interior Minister Patrice Cellario, Director Maritime Affairs Armelle Roudaut-Lafon, Vice-President of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Olivier Wenden, Engineer Marco Casiraghi, who spearheaded the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, and General Manager of SBM Offshore.
Aiming to achieve the goals of a Sovereign who feels that “faced with the climate emergency, it is imperative that living proof of progress replaces all the promises,” the pontoon further demonstrates YCM’s Corporate Social Responsibility strategy. As a loyal sponsor of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, SBM Offshore made the historic decision to establish this floating facility that generates green hydrogen using renewable energy as part of its sixth year of participation.
The purpose is to provide the eight teams in the Energy Class ahead of the meeting in order to lessen the event’s carbon footprint and encourage the use of environmentally friendly energy resources. It has been moored in the YCM Marina since January. One of the most pressing issues of our time is the growing demand for inexpensive, safe, and sustainable energy.
“An ever-increasing demand for safe, sustainable, affordable energy presents one of the biggest challenges of our time. 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.”
Francesco Prazzo, General Manager at SBM Offshore.
Previous Monaco Energy Boat Challenges have trialled this type of facility, which has undergone several upgrades. This 1.3-ton pontoon produces hydrogen constantly day and night using a 20m2 surface area of floating solar panels connected to twice as many batteries. The new cylinder fill time is one litre per minute. In addition, the pontoon features sensors, alarms, a dehumidifier, and a remote control system to monitor the heating and cooling system, electrolyser flow, and battery level.
Teams will have the opportunity to choose between 9 and 13-liter hydrogen cylinders for the 11th Monaco Energy Boat Challenge in 2024. With the ability to generate energy during a race, each team is allowed to estimate its consumption based on the power source that they choose.
In the meantime, YCM is putting an effort into resource conservation by recycling pool water with cutting-edge technology created by FGWRS. This device is being deployed for the first time in a pool in Monaco, under strict supervision from the country’s health officials. Rather than utilising drinking water as was previously the practice, YCM members have been bathing in recycled water that is returned to the pool, especially during the filter cleaning operation, since June 2023. This method has previously been used to treat over a million litres of water, or half of an Olympic-sized pool. With the help of a device called Aqua Sail, which uses recycled water cubes, water from this cutting-edge FGWRS system is also utilised to water plants and clean boats. Young sailors, students at Sailing School, regatta competitors, club members, employees of YCM Marina, and those using the exclusive Touch & Go pontoon—all make use of these.
If you are interested in meeting with yachting businesses using sustainable technologies, contact us today to learn about MTB Superyachts.
