The Energy Observatory: discover the beginnings of the project!

Aude, you're project manager on the Observatory. Can you tell us about your background and how you came to work with Energy Observer?

I'm a freelance museographer. My work involves questioning the relevance of a place, its conversion, its difference, the visitor experience and finding a common thread for the visit. Today, I'm convinced that the richness of a site lies in its ability to bring together different viewpoints and disciplines. The public needs to explore knowledge in an active and exciting way.

I have a background in art history and have worked in the various exhibition professions for some fifteen years in public (Centre Pompidou, Palais de Tokyo, Jeu de Paume) and private (Le Printemps, Swarovski, Agence Jouin Manku) institutions in France and abroad.

Since becoming a freelancer, I've been lucky enough to have worked on a wide variety of projects that question the evolution of our society and its challenges, such as an automobile museum, a convent on the theme of care, or the Minerallium project for the Roullier endowment fund in Saint-Malo. It was through this project that I met Victorien Erussard in December 2023, and he asked me to work with him on the Energy Observatory for the Energy Observer endowment fund.

How did you go about working on the Observatory? Did you have carte blanche or were there a lot of constraints?

The first stage of the project was to think about the concept: why? for whom? what program? where? At this stage, I had carte blanche with few constraints: to exhibit the Energy Observer boat, to remain humble and to create a place that made sense!

It's a subject that really touched me, because at first I didn't really feel concerned by energy in my everyday life. But the fact that I was able to get into it through my research got me completely involved and passionate. Today, I talk about it all around me, especially with my daughters. This project is a fabulous blend of two worlds of committed enthusiasts, sailors and renewable energy specialists. Passion makes sparks fly and gets things moving! It's been an incredible opportunity to take part in something that's bigger than myself and that makes sense. We all have a role to play in changing the way we see our future! It really lifted me!

Is energy an easy topic for you to tackle?

Energy is the lifeblood of all life forms, from the cell to the functioning of our civilization. It's a complex subject, systemic, geological, economic, geopolitical, environmental, global, etc. It needs to be understood in its entirety to make it understandable and tangible. The Observatory's aim is to provide the keys to understanding and making choices.

What is the ambition behind the Energy Observatory project?

Our ambition is to position ourselves as a reference center dedicated to education and research on energy in its entirety for the general public. It's a real invitation to look ahead and imagine a desirable future to achieve the hoped-for carbon neutrality by 2050. It will present the state of the art on various energy topics, and aims to raise awareness and encourage the development and adoption of cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. It's like a toolbox, designed not only to provide food for thought, but also to help us imagine new ways of living and acting. The aim is to encourage the general public to reappropriate this subject, to become aware of it and to believe in tomorrow. It will provide a space for sharing knowledge and working on the basis of verified data with high-ranking partners, as well as an educational and scientific committee.

Can you describe what a visit to the Observatory will be like?

I'm convinced that an experience has to be lived to be memorable and have a real impact. Taking the time to immerse yourself in a dedicated environment is very different from simply watching a program from your sofa or smartphone!

The important thing is to live the subject through experiences, such as a breakdown or activating an energy chain when sending an email. Different media, such as sound, video and manipulations, are well suited to this invisible subject... the challenge is to make flows, batteries, storage and stock prices exciting.

There will also be an immersive tour of the laboratory ship and the history of the Odyssey, a children's gallery to help them discover tomorrow's energy-related professions, an auditorium for screenings or conferences or to organize your seminars/team building, an incubator to support pilot projects, a research residence, a partner space and the offices of our Foundation and EO concept.

What makes this project unique?

This project is unique because it was born of the initiative of a team returning from a seven-year round-the-world trip, experiencing energy issues on a daily basis. Energy Observer has accumulated a wealth of experience, numerous collaborations, documentary films and testimonials to share, but above all, they have an unshakeable passion. We imagined this place with a strong identity, based on the personalities of this team. They have woven a formidable network of committed players, each contributing in their own way to the global energy transition. These resources are precious, and they wish to continue collaborating with them.

The strength of this project also lies in its interface with the documentary series and the digital platform (internal resources and interactions) which will enable the public to deepen their knowledge.

Where are you now? What are the next steps?

We are currently in discussions with various local authorities to find the best site in Saint-Malo to host the project. The next step will then be to put together a team: architects and technical offices to work on the building, which will be either a refurbishment or a new construction, and in parallel to work on the content with the scientific committee.

Many thanks for your testimony, Aude. To keep up to date with our Energy Observatory project, follow us on social media!