As part of its strategic development plan, called Odyssea 2024, French yacht builder Fountaine Pajot is to integrate developer EODev’s hydrogen generators into its vessels. The company states that its ambition is to equip its 59ft sailing catamaran, Samana 59, with EODev’s REXH2 hydrogen power generator. The system will then be integrated by Alternatives Energies, a partner of EODev, located in La Rochelle, France, where the Fountaine Pajot shipyard is also situated.
The generator should be able to operate all onboard appliances, from lighting to the galley and the air conditioning. The company notes that in addition to significant weight savings, and therefore energy consumption savings, an advantage of the hydrogen-electric combination compared with a 100% electric system is that it allows the management of the energy needs depending on the use, thanks to the continuous power of the fuel cell, while being able to instantly use batteries for occasional peak power requirements.
Jérémie Lagarrigue, CEO, EODev, commented, “We are delighted that a French shipyard has decided to take the plunge. Trusting our solutions is one thing, convincing that they are accessible and relevant for the yachting market is another, while many continue to rely on diesel generators ‘because it is simple and cheaper’. It is thanks to collaborations such as the one with Fountaine Pajot that the acceleration of the energy transition in the maritime sector will be achieved more quickly. And it is urgent. Fountaine Pajot’s response is up to the challenge, and the long-term vision offered by the shipyard is the perfect demonstration that the future of the sector is being shaped now.”
In its first configuration, the Samana 59 will have a REXH2 able to supply up to 70kW and a 44kWh LiFePO (lithium iron phosphate) battery approved for maritime use, designed by EVE Systems and Alternative Energies. The hydrogen system will consist of a generator, battery, cooling system, a distribution board, the hydrogen supply line, and a tank with a capacity of 7.5kg of hydrogen. If necessary, depending on the user profile, additional tanks may be optionally integrated into the boat in order to offer extended range. The overall management will be handled by an automated power management system specifically developed by EODev, which calculates the remaining range according to the user profile, in the same way as with a car. The absence of moving parts in the fuel cell will, claims EODev, guarantee a service life of at least 15,000 hours.
The first Samana 59 equipped with EODev’s technology will be launched at the beginning of 2022. Fountaine Pajot hopes to test the entire system in real-world conditions on boats intended to sail over long distances. The next step will be the integration of EODev systems in other vessels, with different sizes and user profiles.
Romain Motteau, CEO, Fountaine Pajot, concluded, “In the context of environmental transition, which is an integral part of our 2024 strategic plan, Fountaine Pajot is demonstrating here its positioning as an innovation platform. The choice of EODev’s technology is the illustration of our desire to bring together experts in solutions that benefit everyone, and to give substance to our ambition to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050, whether for the production of boats or their use. We are proud and happy to be among the pioneers, and are eager to take further steps in the deployment of clean solutions.”