Supported by the Nicolas Hulot Foundation, the project seduced the man who decided to make it his favorite and become the expedition's sponsor. The two sailors, Frédéric Dahirel and Victorien Erussard, will set off on a 5-year round-the-world trip to meet all the people who are making things happen for the planet. For 2000 days, they will travel around 50 countries and make 100 stops. They will sail on a 20-year-old catamaran, led by Mike Birch and Peter Blake. The departure should take place in 2016.
A triple challenge: human, technological and scientific
The two men have the idea of going to meet actors who are taking action to provide concrete solutions to the challenges of the energy transition and who are trying to change our production and consumption patterns. To carry out this project, the first experimental multi-energy electric motor catamaran is currently under construction. The objective will then be to sail for 5 years using clean and renewable energies by testing the most innovative technologies.
Energy Observer is the name of this catamaran, will participate in the OceanoScientifc programme sponsored by UNESCO, which aims to study a dozen parameters at the ocean-atmosphere interface, on little explored maritime routes. It will thus enable the international scientific community to better understand the consequences of climate change.
On board the catamaran, a team of scientists will observe the oceans, take measurements and share them in real time. They will also meet with those working in renewable energy to share their initiatives. For 5 years, researchers will test the oceans to better understand climate phenomena and experiment with renewable energies to consider their replication on a large scale. The crew will regularly welcome on board "Observers" with multidisciplinary and complementary expertise - artists, experts, entrepreneurs, journalists, students... On land too, meetings will be organised during the 100 stopovers planned around the world to meet those who are considering new solutions for the planet.
Thanks to this world tour, "100 projects to take action" will be selected for inclusion in a White Paper to be submitted to the UN.
Some figures on world and European consumption
On average, 58% of consumers worldwide have changed their lifestyles to reduce their carbon footprint and 46% now buy environmentally friendly products.
(Nielsen Global Survey of Consumer Shopping Behaviour - September 2012)
50% of Europeans consider climate change to be one of the most serious problems facing the world.
80% of Europeans believe that using energy more efficiently can contribute to economic growth and job creation in the European Community.
92% of Europeans consider it important for their governments to take measures to support energy efficiency and 90% for them to increase the share of renewable energy by 2030.
50% of Europeans say they have already taken action in the last 6 months to combat climate change.
(Eurobarometer - European Commission - March 2014)
On November 13, 2017, Frenchman Alexandre Caizergues recorded the ERYD - Emanuele Rossi Yacht Design - is an Italian naval architecture firm that also builds its own daysailers under the brand name ERYD Yachts. In 2006, the Eryd 30 - a very elegant 9m sailboat with sleek lines - was launched before being joined in 2010 by the Eryd Open - an innovative 8.70m design. experimental multi-energy electric motor catamaran
Energy Observer is a catamaran equipped with 2 latest-generation electric motors coupled with an innovative system that improves fuel efficiency (+90%). It is equipped with hydrogenators that allow the speed of the catamaran to be used to turn submerged propellers. The catamaran will test several types of propellers designed and developed by ENSTA Bretagne engineers. To use wind in traction, the only technology used will be a semi-automated kite wing (Yves Parlier/ENSTA Bretagne).
It will be equipped with very high-efficiency photovoltaic panels that will transform the captured energy into electricity and Maglev-type wind turbines (levitated on an electromagnetic cushion), which are quieter and more efficient and can produce electricity in light winds.
For energy storage, Energy Observer will be equipped with a latest-generation fuel cell for long-term storage and lighter, smaller batteries to ensure higher performance and provide the required current quickly and recharge when using hydrogen generators.
Discover new Arctic sea routes
The year 2013 was the sixth warmest year since 1850, and the gradual increase in the average temperature at the Earth's surface shows that long-term global warming is an undeniable reality. The melting of the polar ice thus offers the prospect of the opening of new maritime routes in the Arctic, and the oil and gas potential of this area is launching a battle for the conquest of energy resources, endangering the still unspoilt nature of these areas. ENERGY OBSERVER wishes to take advantage of the austral summer to discover these new maritime routes aboard a catamaran with innovative technologies and an exceptional scale, during a round-the-world trip around the Arctic Circle.
