Energy Observer, the world’s first self-sufficient, zero-emission sailing laboratory, has covered over 62,000 nautical miles on its seven-year journey across the globe. Stopping at more than 40 countries, the experimental vessel is testing and spreading the word about new and innovative solutions for low-carbon energy production. On board, solar, wind, and hydrogen power sources are put to the test on the open seas to learn how they can be applied to life on land. New York City is one of the last stops for Energy Observer before retiring at the end of 2024. Untapped New York got to tour the vessel and see its inner workings while docked at Brookfield Place.
Solar panels cover a total surface area of 202m², so shoes must be removed or booties worn over them. Two OceanWings help to propel the boat and harness the power of the wind to produce energy and hydrogen. An Electrolyser on board decomposes water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen gas which get stored in tanks on board. There is a kitchen, dining area, two private sleeping quarters, two double shared sleeping quarters, and one bathroom.
When the ship’s lithium batteries are full, it can sail up to 4000 hours on that saved power. Energy Observer’s sailing experience has proved that a mix of renewable energies and hydrogen can provide power for a range of land and maritime applications and scale up to power whole homes, neighborhoods, and cities.
The Energy Observer project came to life in 2013 when merchant marine officer and offshore sailor Victorien Erussard began to assemble a crew of sailors, scientists, engineers, and journalists. His goal was to create “the first autonomous vessel in the world to navigate the oceans using a mix of renewable energies and hydrogen produced on board from seawater.”
The ship launched in 2017 and has been traversing the world’s oceans ever since, testing out and raising awareness of new sustainable energy technologies. The Energy Observer team has been busy spreading its message through 13 films, 100 episodes of its web series Solutions, and more than 400 YouTube shorts.
Energy Observer is docked at Brookfield Place in Lower Manhattan, where it will remain until April 22nd. While in New York City, the boat will host a series of invite-only educational events and guided tours. Crew will also participate in the 2024 Earth Day Festival in Union Square on April 14th. To finish its stay, Energy Observer will be honored by the United Nations in a symbolic flag ceremony in the presence of France’s Permanent Representative to the UN.
Energy Observer’s next stop is Boston. After the 2024 Olympics in Paris, the ship will retire. The next phase of the project is to use the knowledge gleaned from Energy Observer’s travels and apply it to cargo shipping which contributed 5% of the world’s pollution. Check out more photos from onboard the ship.
Nicole Saraniero is the Insider-in-Chief at Untapped New York, leading our Untapped New York Insiders membership program. Nicole graduated from Hofstra University with a Bachelor of Science in Televis
