Monaco 2025: Cutting-Edge Eco Boating Innovations

This year’s Monaco Energy Challenge offered a revealing look at progress in sustainable power and autonomous systems for powerboats. With around 40 teams competing, the Energy Class stood out for strong technological advances. Organisers confirmed battery storage capacity has nearly doubled in just four years, underscoring the pace of development.

A major addition in 2025 was the AI Class, featuring fully autonomous boats. Inspired by drone technologies, these craft use advanced sensors and artificial intelligence to manoeuvre, dock and carry out missions entirely independently.

Interest in hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines increased significantly. Seen as a viable retrofit for existing yachts, hydrogen offers an alternative to conventional engines. Meanwhile, fuel cells have continued to improve, becoming lighter and more efficient. Their performance now begins to rival that of batteries, widening the options for zero-emission propulsion systems.

Innovation also extended to materials, with several teams using balsa fibre. Jérémie Lagarrigue, CEO of EODev and chair of the Jury Committee, described it as an excellent alternative between glass and carbon, offering good mechanical performance, limited environmental impact and affordability. He called it a promising path for the maritime industry in the short to medium term.

The event featured four competition classes:

• AI Class: fully autonomous, AI-piloted boats.
• Energy Class: standardised hulls testing new technologies.
• SeaLab Class: experimental projects, this year focusing on hydrogen.
• Open Sea Class: CE-certified, zero-emission prototypes up to 25 metres, carrying at least three people.

At the 2025 event, 30 boats were powered by electricity, 12 employed hydrogen technology and 12 featured foiling designs. The Monaco Energy Challenge continues to provide a valuable live platform for sustainable marine innovation.