Sailing Into The Future With Energy Observer

Toyota Motor Europe to sponsor hydrogen vessel on the next step of its global voyage

Launched in 2017 in Saint-malo, France, Energy Observer is a vehicle to demonstrate and share solutions for extracting energy harmlessly from nature. Energy Observer showcases technologies that will support tomorrow's energy networks to make them efficient and applicable on a large scale. It is this model, based on a mix of renewable energy sources and energy storage that the Energy Observer team will promote on their worldwide tour.

Energy Observer is the first autonomous hydrogen vessel that emits no greenhouse gases or fine particles. This electrically propelled vessel of the future operates by using a mix of renewable energies and a system that produces carbon-free hydrogen from seawater. This journey is both a human and technological challenge. A six year odyssey to test onboard technology in extreme conditions. An endeavour to navigate the first energy autonomous boat around the globe. In addition, the crew led by Victorien Erussard and

Jérôme Delafosse, is also searching for solutions to champion an ecological energy transition.

Hydrogen is at the very heart of the Energy Observer project and the major reason for Toyota Motor Europe's participation. On board the boat, it allows the vessel to gain a considerable weight advantage (50% of the displacement of the ship) when compared to an exclusive battery storage solution. Used as an energy storage means, it is key to overcoming the issue of the intermittent supply of energy both on land and at sea, to exploit surplus energy and thus extend the autonomy of both mobile and stationary installations.

After sailing in France in 2017, now in the Mediterranean and on to Northern Europe in 2019, Energy Observer aims to reach Tokyo in time for the Olympic Games in 2020. During its expedition, as France's chief ambassador for the UN'S 17 sustainable development goals, the Energy Observer team is producing documentary contents about concrete and reliable solutions, around the world. Their encounters and discoveries will be broadcast through a web-series that will be shared on social media.