Port du Gros Caillou, Paris, France
Energy Observer: End of a seven-year Odyssey and beginning of a new era for the energy transition
On September 12, 2024, Energy Observer, the first zero-emission hydrogen-powered vessel to sail around the world, docked in Paris for her final port of call. After seven years of exploration and innovation, the laboratory vessel concludes her journey where she began, in the French capital. From September 13 to October 11, the public is invited to discover this revolutionary project at the Port du Gros Caillou.
Coming from: Saint-Malo
Time of arrival: 9:00 AM
Land temperature: 25°C
Travelled distance: 350mi
Water temperature: 20°C
Arrival in Paris
A voyage for energy transition
Energy Observer began its voyage in 2017, under the inspiration of Victorien Erussard, a merchant navy officer and ocean racer. This unique vessel is powered by a mix of renewable energies, wing propulsion sails, and produces its own hydrogen through seawater electrolysis. This project has been a real testing ground for innovative energy solutions, adapted to global environmental challenges.
Over seven years, Energy Observer has covered more than 68,000 nautical miles, visited 50 countries and made 101 stopovers. The voyage demonstrated the effectiveness of sustainable technologies in a variety of environments, while raising awareness of the challenges of the energy transition. The ship served as a platform for exchanges with experts, industrialists and political decision-makers, reinforcing the global commitment to a low-carbon society.
A human and technological adventure
During her voyage, Energy Observer caught the attention of thousands of people around the world. More than 350,000 visitors explored her itinerant exhibition village, and the project was covered by documentary films and widely circulated videos. The crew, made up of sailors, engineers, scientists and journalists, worked tirelessly to promote technologies capable of transforming our lifestyles.
On his arrival in Paris, Victorien Erussard marked this milestone by symbolically handing over Solar Impulse's magnetic compass, which solar aircraft pioneer Bertrand Piccard had entrusted to him in 2017. This compass, which accompanied Energy Observer throughout her odyssey, will again be used in the next project of the explorer and President of the Solar Impulse Foundation: Climate Impulse, the first hydrogen-powered flight around the world scheduled for 2028.
Handing over the compass
A new chapter for Energy Observer
Although this voyage is coming to an end, the Energy Observer adventure does not stop here. The team is already preparing ambitious new projects to continue promoting a sustainable energy transition. One of the flagship projects is the design of a new laboratory vessel, Energy Observer 3, which will test synthetic fuels and advanced cogeneration technologies. This vessel will open a new chapter of exploration, with a new documentary series, "Energy, an enlightened future".
At the same time, two major initiatives will be launched: Energy Observer Weekly, a digital platform dedicated to the analysis of energy issues, and the Energy Observatory, a place of education on the energy transition. The latter is a unique cultural space where science, technology and the arts come together to raise public awareness of climate challenges.
Exhibition Village
Through its new initiatives, the project continues to play a central role in combating climate change and supporting the energy transition, particularly in the maritime sector. The public is invited to discover the history and future of this exceptional vessel at the Port du Gros Caillou, until October 11, 2024.
Energy Observer, more than a ship, a movement towards a sustainable future!