The Route du Rhum started this Wednesday, November 10, from St Malo. In the starting town, former skipper Victorien Erussard and founder of Energy Observer was present at his stand to talk about hydrogen and decarbonisation. “I came in 3rd place on the Rum Trail,” he jokes on the set of Tech & Co.
Energy Observer is the name of this ship that sails exclusively thanks to hydrogen that emits zero emissions and that went around the world in 2017. Quite a feat when maritime transport represents 3% of global pollution. “This project symbolizes the energy mixes of tomorrow. We have still seen very few industrial developments with hydrogen”, emphasizes Victorien Erussard.
In fact, this energy as a solution to decarbonization is the source of much debate. “There have been many false starts but international plans are beginning to show the opposite. That is what we try to demonstrate with our projects.” Energy Observer bets everything on hydrogen, in particular through its subsidiary EODev, which produces hydrogen electric generators, exported all over the world.
a new project
Victorien Erussard and his teams are currently working on a second project that reinforces their commitment to hydrogen: the Energy Observer 2 “to go to the end of the technological exploration of hydrogen”, adds the founder.
This time it is a 150 meter long freighter that will initially sail in European waters. “The ambition is to make it the lowest carbon ship in the world.” For the project to be successful, the French company has partnered with maritime giants such as CMA-CGM.
Source: BFM TV
