it was recently announced that energy observer, a multi-hull race boat that was converted into an emission-free, green boat equipped with solar panels, wind turbines, a kite sail, and a hydrogen fuel cell system will set sail this spring on a six-year journey around the world.

energy observer will be on a six-year journey to show the applications of an emission-free boat.
(youtube) 

the boat, according to an article on phys.org, was originally designed in 1983 for competitive, open-water sailing and won the jules verne trophy in 1994 captained by peter blake. in 2015, frederic dahirel and victorien erussard came up with the idea of turning the boat into a completely emission-free vessel.

the trip will begin from its home port of saint-malo and will sail around the mediterranean and then northern europe before making its way across the atlantic to the americas some time in 2020. the full trip itinerary can be found on the energy observer website. the pan is to visit more than 50 countries and make more than 100 stops.

according to the website, hydrogen was chosen as the fuel for the energy observer because it is the most abundant chemical element in the universe and “demonstrates every day a little more its immense potential as a means of storage and utilization of renewable energy.”

the boat will convert seawater into hydrogen to power its fuel cells through an electrolysis process through hydrogenerators that will enable the boat to survive without the need for refueling.

in a video on the website, the organizers said, “we have the traveling proff that in reality we can reconcile ourselves with nature and that nature can be the best conveyor of the energy solutions of tomorrow.”

the mission is to demonstrate that these new technologies are not only possible, but also practical and can work in real-world applications.

learn more about the energy observer, its mission and its technology in the video below: