Introducing Yacht Club de Monaco’s new green hydrogen pontoon

Thursday, February 22, 2024

The Yacht Club de Monaco has introduced a cutting-edge autonomous green hydrogen pontoon ahead of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge (1-6 July 2024). This innovative pontoon can refill 30 cylinders and provide green hydrogen to eight teams, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the collective initiative ‘Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting’. HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco graced the event, joined by key figures such as Céline Caron-Dagioni, Minister of Public Works, the Environment and Urban Development; Patrice Cellario, Minister of the Interior; Armelle Roudaut-Lafon, Director of Maritime Affairs; Olivier Wenden, Vice-President of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation; Marco Casiraghi, the engineer behind the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge; and Francesco Prazzo, General Manager at SBM Offshore.

“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,” says YCM General Secretary Bernard d’Alessandri.

The pontoon underscores YCM’s commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility, reflecting the vision of a Sovereign who prioritizes tangible progress over mere promises in addressing the climate emergency. Since January, this floating facility, generating green hydrogen from renewable sources, has been anchored in the YCM Marina, installed by SBM Offshore, a partner of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge. Its primary objective is to supply the eight teams in the Energy Class, aiming to diminish the event’s carbon footprint and advocate for the use of eco-friendly energy resources.

This innovative facility, which has been tested in previous editions of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge and undergone significant enhancements, weighs 1.3 tonnes. It boasts a 20m² area of floating solar panels, coupled with double the number of batteries, enabling continuous hydrogen production round the clock. The fill-time for cylinders has been reduced to an impressive 1 litre per minute. Additionally, the pontoon is equipped with a remote control system for monitoring electrolyser flow, battery charge, heating and cooling systems, as well as sensors, alarms, and a dehumidifier.

For the 11th Monaco Energy Boat Challenge in 2024, participating teams will have the option to choose between 9-liter or 13-liter xhydrogen cylinders. Each team has the liberty to estimate its energy consumption based on its preferred power source, with the autonomy to produce energy during races.

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