Monaco Energy Boat Challenge returns in July for its 11th edition

The 11th edition of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge is scheduled to occur from July 1st to 6th, 2024, organized by the Yacht Club de Monaco in collaboration with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. The event serves as a platform bringing together key industry players and young engineers to promote alternative and sustainable propulsion solutions for boats, in addition to exhibiting boats and systems already on or about to enter the market and futuristic prototypes.

“Research & development, open source, challenges on the water, tech talks and a conferences are part of an event that supports the energy transition to build the future of yachting” – emphasizes YCM General Secretary Bernard d’Alessandri commenting the calendar of the 11^ Monaco Energy Boat Challenge.

11th Monaco Energy Boat Challenge: Categories

Again this year, on the prototype side alongside the Solar and SeaLab categories, teams in the Energy Class are preparing to compete with their counterparts from all over the world. Twenty-one renowned universities have been selected for the 2024 edition, including the University of Cambridge in England, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Politecnico di Milano, Technical University of Berlin and many others. coming to demonstrate the potential of alternative propulsion. A total of 14 nations will be represented such as Canada, Croatia, Peru, Chili, China and Monaco.

Among these 21 teams using electric propulsion, there is a noticeable increase in the use ofhydrogen for energy storage: nearly 50% of projects (ten) will showcase hybrid hydrogen technologies, with the remaining 11 opting for 100% lithium-ion battery energy storage. A reminder that in 2023 the young Italian engineers from Uniboat won this category and will be keen to defend their title for the third year in a row.

Launched in 2018 by YCM which supplies teams with a one design catamaran hull, the Energy Class calls on the ingenuity of participants who must design the cockpit and the most efficient and durable propulsion system,using alternative energies within a given quantity of energy (maximum 10kWh stored on board). New this year is that they are allowed to add foils.

Teams registering for the SeaLab and Solar categories will be confirmed on 29th March. Boats on the market coming to demonstrate their capabilities in the sea trials have until 15th May to declare their interest and register. For this 11th edition, supported by UBS, BMW, SBM Offshore and prestigious shipyards come Monaco Marine, Oceanco, Ferretti Group e San Lorenzo, sono attese 36 università e quasi 20 like Monaco Marine, Oceanco, Ferretti Group and San Lorenzo, 36 universities and nigh-on 20 electric boats already on the market are expected representing 27 nations, another record on the water with 55-plus zero-emission boats descending on the Principality in July.