More than 40 teams are expected to take part in the 2025 Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, set to take place at the Yacht Club de Monaco in July.
So far more than 30 teams from 18 countries have registered for the event which has grown over the years and is known for its zero-emission yachting competition.
The event will bring together university students, industry leaders, and innovators to experiment and propose concrete solutions to the challenge of sustainable maritime mobility.
The event is supported by the Prince Albert II Foundation, UBS, BMW, SBM Offshore, and several shipyards including Ferretti Group, Sanlorenzo, Azimut|Benetti Group, Oceanco, and Lürssen.
This year an AI Class will be introduced, dedicated to autonomous boats capable of integrating artificial intelligence systems for navigation and energy management.
Technical conferences
Alongside the competitions on the water, the programme includes two days of technical conferences, with discussions focusing on advanced yachting technologies from onboard carbon capture to noise pollution, from cybersecurity to decarbonisation through artificial intelligence and space technologies.
The event will also incorproate the sixth Hydrogen & Alternative Fuels Conference, organised in collaboration with the Prince Albert II Foundation and the Energy Transition Mission.
Topics such as hydrogen refueling infrastructure, liquid or solid storage, the use of methanol in superyachts, and the potential of dual-fuel engines will be explored.
Alternative fuels
Attention is also given to training and professional integration with the Corporate Mentoring Programme.
The competition will feature four classes – AI Class, Energy Class, SeaLab Class, and Open Sea Class – covering a range of approaches to sustainable navigation, from CE-certified prototypes up to 25 meters to experimental solutions using batteries, hydrogen, or alternative fuels.
The Sustainable Yachting Technology Award, offered by the Prince Albert II Foundation with a contribution of €25,000, will once again reward engineering creativity.
In 2024, the award was presented to the Physis Synergy team from Politecnico di Milano for innovations in the field of fuel cells.
