The Energy Observer laboratory ship prepares to finish its trip around the world

The laboratory ship Energy Observerthe first ship capable of producing its own hydrogen, stops this week in Florida, in the southeast of USA, the last country he will visit before returning to France to close a trip around the world that began in 2020.

Since its first expedition, around France in 2017, this boat, covered by 202 m2 of solar panels, has traveled almost 63,040 nautical miles using only renewable energy.

Along with its fuel cell and photovoltaic panels, the Energy Observer takes advantage of the wind thanks to its “Oceanwings”, fully automated 12-meter wingspan, which allow increasing navigation speed, reducing consumption or dedicating the engines to hydrogen production.

The objective of the project is twofold: to examine all the clean energy technologies on board and to share what has been learned through meetings, articles and published videos, the captain of the ship, Marin Jarry, explained to AFP on Tuesday during a stop in Fort Lauderdale. , near Miami.

The trip around the world undertaken in 2020 has allowed these technologies to be tested in various climatic conditions in the Atlantic, the Pacific, Asia, Africa and now America.

The result has been positive, says Jarry. “We have learned a lot on this trip, both in technology and other solutions”says.

The company, headed by navigator Victorien Erussard, hopes that the maritime sector can take inspiration from its experiments and move towards clean energy.

The “Oceanwings” They are already used, for example, on freighters such as the Canopée, designed to transport parts of the Ariane 6 rocket from Europe to the space center in French Guiana.

During the trip, the 40% of the energy used has been wind, another 40%, photovoltaic, and a twenty% has come from hydrogen.

The Energy Observer was originally a racing catamaran, 30.5 m long and 12.80 m wide. After her stop in Florida, she will go to Washington, New York and Boston, before returning to France.

The company is already working on another project, the Energy Observer 2, a freighter 120 meters long, 22 meters wide and with a cargo capacity of 5,000 tons, which will run on liquid hydrogen.

Maritime transport generates every year 3% of greenhouse gases globally, according to the International Maritime Organization, which wants to reduce net emissions to zero by 2050.