Yacht Club de Monaco hosts the 2026 Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, bringing together 52 global teams to test sustainable maritime innovations.
Just days before the start of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, Yacht Club de Monaco is preparing to host much more than a competition. For four days, students, researchers, engineers, manufacturers and shipyards from around the world will gather in the Principality to test, share and compare their solutions for new propulsion systems. With 52 teams taking part and 14 universities present as observers at the 2026 edition, the event continues to attract those who share the same ambition: to accelerate the maritime sector’s energy transition. Set up in the Village that is open to the public, participants will present their projects and technologies during a busy programme that combines on-water contests, conferences, demos, and activities accessible to all.
Organised under the aegis of the ‘Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting’ initiative, and supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, UBS, BMW, and SBM Offshore, the event also brings together major industry players including Safe Harbor, Oceanco, Ferretti Group, Azimut | Benetti Group, and Lürssen. “This year, we are welcoming back regular attendee teams, as well as new ones, and for the first time universities coming to observe and prepare to enter the competition in the future. This is undoubtedly the best indicator of the momentum driving the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge. It has become a place where ideas circulate, experiences are shared and the next generation of engineers works alongside industry professionals to progress sustainable maritime technologies,” says Yacht Club de Monaco Director and General Secretary Bernard d’Alessandri.
Monaco already looking ahead to 2027
Divided into the Energy Class, AI Class, SeaLab Class, and Open Sea Xperience, contestants will present electric, hydrogen, methanol, and foiling projects, showcasing the diversity of technologies being explored to decarbonize maritime transport. A technical partner since 2024, NatPower H is the official hydrogen supplier ensuring all refuelling needs are met. As well as the teams competing, the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge also welcomes 14 other universities this year. Among them is an American delegation comprising representatives from four renowned institutions (Colombia University – New York, George Washington University, Howard University – Washington DC, and Florida International University). All are keen to find out what is involved firsthand and meet key players in the ecosystem with the stated aim being to take part in the 2027 edition. This initiative reflects the event’s growing appeal to higher education institutions which see the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge as a unique platform for experimentation and exchange focused on sustainable maritime mobility. Likewise, the event also benefits from the support of ESA NanoTech, an innovative company specialising in the development and production of sustainable graphene, a nanomaterial recognised for its mechanical properties.
Village open to the public for an immersive experience at the heart of innovation
Open free of charge from 10.00am to 6.00pm, Thursday 9 to Saturday 11 July, the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge Village is an opportunity for visitors to experience the event up close with the teams. It is located in a shaded area where there will be a TV studio broadcasting live coverage of the on-water contests and daily awards ceremonies held 5.30pm every evening. Among activities the public can take part in is the Winch Challenge, a fun contest where participants virtually propel their boat as fast as possible, discover the official event simulator and step into the shoes of a driver, and enjoy many other activities for all ages. They are free to explore the innovations further and take advantage of a food area and the free ice cream that is on offer every afternoon.
Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Sustainable Yachting Technology Award: finalists in the starting blocks
The University of Genoa, ENSAM – Hydrogadz, Politecnico di Torino, and Kumaraguru College of Technology are among the finalists for the 2026 edition. On Thursday 9 July these teams will present their projects to an International Jury, hoping to win this prize which rewards the most promising technological solution for energy efficiency and carbon emission reduction applied to yachting. The stakes are high as it comes with a €25,000 grant to support the development and implementation of the most innovative university or research project in its ongoing bid to accelerate innovation and put a spotlight on initiatives contributing to more sustainable navigation.
A bridge between industry and the next generation
A key factor in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge’s appeal is that it is built on a unique ecosystem that brings together students, alumni, researchers, and industry professionals. Through its Corporate Mentoring Programme, several partner companies support teams in developing their projects by providing technical expertise, feedback, and an industry perspective. This year, 20 professionals and 22 teams participated in this initiative.
Event partner Safe Harbor is involved with two Energy Class teams: Hydrogadz (École Nationale Supérieure des Arts et Métiers) and TAMEO Energy (École Nationale Supérieure de Techniques Nationaux Paris). Throughout the year leading up to the event, students benefit from support on technical aspects and project management, as well as access to the group’s facilities. This year, sea trials were carried out at their site in La Seyne-sur-Mer, allowing the teams to finalise preparation of their boats and test their solutions in real conditions. Other big names in the industry get involved in the event every year, as Alejandro Velez, Director of UBS Monaco, Spain & Portugal, testifies: “At UBS, our partnership with Yacht Club de Monaco and the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge demonstrates our strong commitment to innovation, sustainable development and responsible progress. By supporting this pioneering initiative, we are proud to encourage the next generation of talent who are helping to build cleaner and more efficient maritime mobility. The Monaco Energy Boat Challenge is a perfect illustration of how collaboration and bold ideas can be drivers of significant change for the future”.
From competition to entrepreneurship
Among the success stories attending this year’s event is Nemo-Systems, a startup founded by Maëlle Truchement, Simon Dorthe and Marc Guynot, three former participants who are returning as entrepreneurs. Their company has developed an onboard data collection and analysis system that will be fitted to all participating boats this year. For the Energy Class boats it will provide them with detailed monitoring of their energy performance, while the other categories have access to a real-time geolocation solution. “This technology will allow us to measure the voltage, current, and energy efficiency of the different boats during the competition. This data will then be displayed on our race platform so teams and race officials can see their boat’s rankings and energy consumption,” explains Maëlle, the company’s co-founder and CEO. Recently selected as one of five MonacoTech finalists from a hundred applications, Nemo-Systems is a perfect example of what the event is all about: fostering emerging talent, promoting connections between academia and industry, and supporting the transformation of student projects into entrepreneurial innovations. Having started out as part of EPFL’s Swiss Solar Boat team, several of its founders are now returning to the Principality in a new role. The Swiss institution is also being represented again this year in the SeaLab Class with a project supported by sailor Alan Roura.
Two conferences to decipher the future of yachting
Experts, industry professionals, researchers and decision-makers will gather for two conferences on major changes taking place in the sector. The Advanced Yachting Technology Conference on Thursday 9 July explores monitoring for the maritime and yachting industries with a programme focused on innovation and cutting-edge technologies. Then the 7th Alternative Fuels & Sustainable Yachting Conference, organised by the YCM with Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, offers an analysis of potential decarbonization pathways for the sector on Friday 10 July including nuclear propulsion, wind power, methanol and the latest advances in batteries and electric power.
When innovation meets open source
Held on Friday 10 July at the Yacht Club of Monaco, the Tech Talks provide teams with an open platform on which to share their work and progress. From innovation, design, eco-design and ergonomics to life cycle analysis, the best teams in each category present their projects to the public and the International Jury to compete for the Innovation, Design and Eco-Design Awards. This format is a long-standing cornerstone of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge to promote and share knowledge beyond the sea contests. Due to the wide range of technologies explored, indepth discussions, and growing involvement of universities and industries worldwide, the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge has transformed from a student event focused on solar energy a decade ago to become an international platform for demonstrating technologies on a bigger scale.
