A new prize for the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge to encourage sustainable yachting
April 18 2024 - 11:14AM
A new prize for the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge to reward
innovative university projects. The Prince Albert II of Monaco
Foundation, an active Monaco Energy Boat Challenge partner, is
adding another dimension to the partnership in launching the Prince
Albert II of Monaco Foundation Sustainable Yachting Technology
Award. The contest is open to universities anywhere in the world
and on 6th July will reward the best technological solution that is
applicable to yachting in terms of energy efficiency and/or carbon
reduction. "We are pleased to initiate this prize to help finance
the development of a university’s department with a grant of 25,000
euros. We hope to encourage the winner to go further with its
applied research and who knows maybe help those prototypes progress
towards a more industrial solution", explains Olivier Wenden,
Vice-President of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. Once
the grant has been awarded, the winner will be able to present
progress on their project at the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge for
three years starting in 2025. The prize was officially announced at
the Monaco Ocean Week, that was attended by explorers Mike Horn and
Bertrand Piccard.
Under the aegis of the collective Monaco, Capital
of Advanced Yachting approach and organised by YCM, the Monaco
Energy Boat Challenge brings maritime industry pioneers together
with visionary engineers around a common goal: to promote
alternative propulsion and sustainability in the yachting sector.
On the programme, a unique convergence of boats already on or about
to enter the market and innovative prototypes. “Every year,
students surpass themselves. They are an amazing source of ideas.
It is fascinating to see their potential and we are happy to put
them in contact with industry players who are a great support for
these young engineers,” says YCM General Secretary Bernard
d’Alessandri.
Entrants to the Solar Class have just confirmed
their presence at the 11th Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, with 15
teams and 13 nations set to go head to head in this historic
category that has supported the event since its launch in 2014. A
few weeks before, contestants in the Energy Class finalised their
registrations, representing 20 renowned universities. Among these
prestigious institutions is the University of Cambridge, the
Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, the Politecnico di Milano
and Technical University of Berlin to name a few, with 14 nations
represented including Canada, Croatia, Peru, Chile and China. All
have a chance to meet well-known shipyards like Monaco Marine,
Oceanco, Ferretti Group and Sanlorenzo. Perceived by many as one of
the key new power sources in the energy transition to a cleaner
more sustainable future, hydrogen ticks the boxes of a range of
energy needs. As an energy carrier, hydrogen offers a promising
alternative to fossil fuels as it can be produced from renewable
sources like solar and wind or via the natural gas decarbonisation
process. Several contestants have opted for this solution. Of the
21 teams in the Energy Class using electric propulsion, nearly 50%
of projects (ten) will be presenting hybrid technologies based on
hydrogen, while the other 11 are choosing to store 100% of the
energy in Lithium-Ion batteries. Note that during the Monaco Energy
Boat Challenge in 2019, the Yacht Club de Monaco and Prince Albert
II of Monaco Foundation also co-launched the Monaco Hydrogen
Working Group. Thanks to the success of this Working Group’s
conference, the Monaco Energy Transition has been co-organiser for
the last three years.
For more information:Press Office
LaPresse - ufficio.stampa@lapresse.it
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/806ffd4e-ee3d-4c5c-b2a5-cda5fbf9f81b