Monaco Energy Boat Challenge

Edit Content

2024 Entry List

Energy Class

NÉREIDES Université de Technologie de Troyes
riviera racing University of Cambridge
Hydrogadz / Monaco Marine ENSAM
Hydros Team UI University of Indonesia
Técnico Solar Boat Instituto Superior Técnico

Cóndor Motorspory Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
WANNSEA Technische Universität Berlin
SEA SAKTHI Kumaraguru College of Technology
Team Elettra UniGe University of Genoa
PoliTo H2Fly Politecnico di Torino
TAMEO ENSTA / monaco marine ENSTA PARIS
HydroVinci Team Leonard de Vinci

ALMA MATER STUDIORUM Università di Bologna
Adria Energy Boat Team University of Rijeka
Oceanos - NTUA National Technical University of Athens
Physis Polimi Energy Boat Politecnico di Milano
Exocet - Polytechnique Polytechnique de Montréal
Messina Energy Boat Università degli Studi di Messina

Université de Technologie de Troyes

2 participations

Team

The Néréides team is composed of 22 talented and passionate students. Driven by unwavering determination, the Néréides team aims to push the boundaries of sustainable innovation and advance marine technology. Bringing together a diversity of skills, experiences, and expertise, the Néréides team is poised to take on the challenge of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge for a second time.

project

For this edition, we aim to be able to control our propulsion system completely. Therefore, we intend to assemble our own system. With the assistance of a naval architect, we have studied all possible configurations (two engines, one engine, front, rear, etc.). We have chosen a single engine positioned at the stern.

The calculations undertaken considered the geometry and water resistance on the hull. The calculations followed the procedure proposed by Carlton in the book “Marine Propellers and Propulsion.” This procedure was able to determine an ideal propeller geometry and the necessary power, torque, and rotation for the expected operation. The propeller will be placed ahead of the pod to prevent the water from being diverted.

We’ve selected an electric outboard motor with an electrical power of 12 kW.

University of Cambridge

Team

Cambridge University Riviera Racing is a new student team driving towards a sustainable maritime future by designing and building a zero-emissions single-seater catamaran racing boat to compete at the 2024 Monaco Energy Boat Challenge. The 2024 edition will be our first entry into the competition.

project

We have decided to take on the challenge of designing hydrofoils in our first year to maximise the performance potential of our boat.

ENSAM

participations

Team

Hydrogadz is a student association created in 2018. We have already taken part in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge in 2019. This year we have a partnership with Capgemini – who have also already taken part in the race – and Monaco Marine as our main sponsor.

project

The aim is to merge our two boats to make one single, more efficient boat.

University of Indonesia

5 participations

Team

In the first two years in 2016 and 2017, Hydros Team UI competed in the Hydro Contest in Switzerland, in 2018 Hydros Team UI competed in the Hydro Contest in France and since 2019 Hydros Team UI competed in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge (MEBC). This year, Hydros Team UI will compete in Monaco Energy Boat Challenge 2024 particularly in Energy class which is held annually by the Yacht Club de Monaco.

project

The Hydros Team UI integrates an innovative propulsion system featuring a specially designed 10.5 KW electric motor from Golden Motor, renowned for its DC technology and reversible rotational capability. The motor’s impressive IE5 rating ensures high operational efficiency. To address maneuvering limitations, the team introduced carefully crafted rudder blades utilizing the NACA 0015 foil, optimizing lift (CL) and drag (CD) characteristics. Balancing hydrodynamic efficiency and stability, these modifications are expected to significantly enhance the ship’s maneuverability, particularly given the unique attributes of the 10.5 KW electric outboard engine.

Instituto Superior Técnico

4 participations

Team

Técnico Solar Boat was founded in 2015 in the heart of a very competitive university with the purpose of bringing the nautical world closer to the Student community through the development and construction of Competition Boats, powered solely by renewable energies, while simultaneously being a strong complement to the more theoretical background of the academic courses. The team first competed in 2017 in the Solar Class with its first ever prototype, and since then it has uninterruptedly competed in Monaco’s Energy Boat Challenge, having won a 2nd place in 2019 and a 3rd place in 2022 in the Solar Class. Since 2021, the team also works in a fully hydrogen powered boat, that competes in the Energy Class, having inumerous Innovation Prizes for its development with the Hydrogen Technology.

project

For this year, we plan to increase the total power of our outboard motors from 4 kW to nearly 10 kW, aiming to enhance our competitiveness, especially in speed competitions such as the championship race.

Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

1 participation

Team

The Pontifical Catholic University of Chile is a renowned academic institution, recognized for excellence in higher education and research. With a rich history and a steadfast commitment to educational quality, the university stands out for its diverse academic programs and significant contributions to society. The Pontifical Catholic University of Chile fosters an innovative learning environment and is an integral part of the global educational community.

project

Cóndor Motorsport is a student group that was founded to bring the thrill of motor sports to UC students. Born from a need for projects and practical experiences, we respond to a lack of such opportunities in the student community. Invited to this competition, we embrace the chance to showcase our passion, commitment and engineering skills. It will be our first participation and we hope that this will lay the groundwork for increased external engagement and representation.

Technische Universität Berlin

2 participations

Team

WannSea is a student initiative at the Technical University of Berlin.
Currently, we have 40 active members and more than 20 alumni who
have been integral parts of the team in past semesters.
We are the first German university team to participate in the Energy
Class of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge (MEBC).

project

We are currently developing our own propulsion system.

Kumaraguru College of Technology

3 participations

Team

Team Sea Sakthi from Kumaraguru Institutions are 15 young engineers of various branches with shared vison. The Vision is to create a sustainable future in the maritime sector. The relentless pursuit of sustainable excellence pushes the team to spread the word of change to a sustainable alternative.

Kumaraguru Institutions, established in 1984, is a leading private autonomous institution sprawling 156 acres in the technological corridor of Coimbatore, India. Kumaraguru Institution offers the finest exposure in terms of world-class education and infrastructural amenities with 165 well-equipped laboratories, and research centers for battery and automobile manufacturing. Affiliated with NBA, NAAC(A++) councils and Tier-1 recognition from the Washington Accord. The vision is to nurture the necessity of sustainable student innovation for a renewable future.

project

This time the propulsion system strives for a strategic performance. The power consumption can be adjusted to the requirement, using 3 preset modes which limits the energy usage, Eco-Mode will be opted for endurance race where efficiency is vital and for high performance the sports mode will be opted while normal mode is optimized for cruising.

Two 6500 W propulsion systems with MOX-09 motors are rated at IE5, this is the world’s highest energy efficiency classification for electric motors. The manoeuvrability of the boat through thrust vectoring, expands the YALI’s ability to take agile turns. The twin Propulsion System produces 1668 Newtons of thrust. Decreasing propeller diameter achieves 40% more acceleration and 15% drag reduction.

The YALI cruises at a speed of 18 Knots and reaches a top speed of 25 knots. This time we’ve opted for a Magnetic propulsion, eliminating energy loss due to water seepage. The anti-ventilation plates above the propeller restricts the flow of air into the propeller preventing loss of traction and reduces slip.

To optimize the efficiency sinewave technology has been employed, where the controller manages the heat produced inside the system which increases the performance, efficiency and provides longer life to the motor and the controller of the propulsion system.

University of Genova

2 participations

Team

The team is composed of BSc students, MS Students and PhD Students in
Electrical, Electronics, Marine Engineering and Naval Architect, supervised by
a team of researchers and Professors of marine and electrical engineering.
This is our second participation in this competition. The main objective is to
create a multidisciplinary collaboration in our core research field between
young researchers and students of our Department.

project

The objectives for the propulsion systems are mainly twofold: the first concerns the propeller, and the second pertains to the electric powertrain. Our goal is to enhance the propulsion systems by incorporating two distinct types of propellers, one optimized for endurance races and another tailored for the remaining races.These propellers will be produced by using 3D printing technology. Additionally, we are addressing ventilation concerns from the previous year by developing a new “anti-ventilation” plate. On the electrical front, our focus lies in refining the motor inverter software. We aim to implement a sensorless controller for our electric motor to improve energy efficiency. Moreover, we are exploring the feasibility of increasing the quantity of photovoltaic (PV) panels on board to recharge the batteries during the endurance race.

Politecnico di Torino

1 participation

Team

Established in 1859, the Politecnico di Torino is a renowned Italian academic institution specializing in engineering, architecture, and applied sciences. With a rich history of excellence, it offers undergraduate and advanced programs, preparing students for innovative challenges. Relying on qualified faculty and state-of-the-art facilities, the Politecnico excels in scientific research and industry collaboration, positioning itself as a leader in technical education and innovation.

project

PoliTo H2Fly is a student team from Politecnico di Torino established with the goal of participating to the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge and, moreover, pushing innovation in the field of zero-emission nautical propulsion. Composed by students from different engineering courses, our common goal is to apply theoretical knowledge and practical skills to design and construct zero-emission marine vehicles. Regarding the MEBC, we are focusing on the Energy class, with the intention of exploring other categories in the future.

ENSTA PARIS

4 participations

Team

We are concerned about environmental issues and motivated to take part in the Energy Boat Challenge again to share our ideas with teams from all over the world. Last year, we participated in every race, and we succeed to deal with many technical issues. We reached the 8th position in Energy Class in 2023. This year we intend to crush the precedent speed record that was ours.Our team is a partner of the Monaco Marine network of shipyards.

project

We chose this year to run with three motors. Two at the front of the boat and one at the back. They will be retractable and more agile.
The front motors will be able to do differential propulsion.

Leonard de Vinci

5 participations

Team

The Hydrovinci association is centred on naval construction. It is through working in this sector that the association helps 68 students from the three schools to develop their competences.
The main goal of the association is to optimise the energy efficiency of sea-going craft.
After 4 years of competing in the MEBC, the association has entered the Hydrogen era. It is with 28 students from the engineering school that the team will try to improve the results from last year.

project

This year, we plan to improve greatly the boat embedded system.

The first choice we made was to downsize the onboard-computer. The previous year, this function was fulfilled by a Raspberry Pi 2B, which included a 900MHz quad-core CPU with 1GB RAM and was capable of performing complex graphic calculations, processing video and even running games. All of those capabilities are far overkill for the intended usage of the system.

So, in an attempt to better suit the needs of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, we decided to downgrade the system hardware and use a Raspberry Pi Pico with a 133MHz Dual-core processor and 264kB RAM which is more energy-thrifty and better fits the project needs.

Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Italy

4 participations

Team

UniBoAT is an innovative teaching and research project born inside the Industrial Engineering Department of the Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna in October 2019. The team is devoted to the development and implementation of an eco-friendly and fully electric boat, through sustainable solutions. We are participating for the fourth time as an emblem and demonstration of our efforts into developing and improving this field of research.

project

Another fundamental component of the powertrain is the battery. The construction of the two home-made batteries is a focused effort emphasizing the creation of the most efficient setup tailored to our specific needs. Our Battery Management System (BMS) is also a product of our own design and construction. Prospective upgrades may involve the construction of new batteries to reach highest peak performance. Furthermore, a fuel cell is integrated to convert the hydrogen stored in the cylinders at 200 bars into electricity; this generated power will recharge our batteries during the endurance race, allowing us to utilize hydrogen as an additional energy source, like the approach employed last year. Acquiring a completely new fuel cell is under consideration, given the advancements in Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) technologies. Finally, for weight reasons the photovoltaic panels will be removed which means that we will only use two energy sources and not three.

University of Rijeka

2 participations

Team

We are a group of enthusiasts and lovers of boats, composite materials and sailing. We are engaged in the design and construction of vessels, education and networking. This is our third participation in MEBC. Our team previously competed in the HYDROCONTEST competition

project

Upgrading our outboard electric motor represents a significant leap forward in terms of power and weight, promising enhanced performance and efficiency. The decision to transition from a 6 kW, 37 kg to a 11.5 kW, 29 kg motor underscores a commitment to embracing cutting-edge technology in the pursuit of superior boating experiences.

Our new motor substantial power increase promises a more dynamic and responsive navigation, providing us with a heightened sense of control and speed on the water. This extra power not only accelerates the vessel more rapidly but also ensures a smoother overall operation, particularly in challenging conditions. The weight reduction from 37 kg to 29 kg is a welcome improvement, contributing to better weight distribution on the boat, ultimately enhancing stability and maneuverability.

The Labruna E-X20’s substantial power increase promises a more dynamic and responsive navigation, providing us with a heightened sense of control and speed on the water. This extra power not only accelerates the vessel more rapidly but also ensures a smoother overall operation, particularly in challenging conditions. The weight reduction from 37 kg to 29 kg is a welcome improvement, contributing to better weight distribution on the boat, ultimately enhancing stability and maneuverability.

National Technical University of Athens

6 participations

Team

Oceanos – NTUA was established in 2016 and consists of 70 undergraduate students from various institutions. Our team is located at the NTUA campus and is organized into five sub-teams. We have actively taken part in the HydroContest for two years (2017-18) and have been participating in MEBC since then. Our biggest achievement is securing the 2nd place overall in 2023, including 3 1st places. Our objectives extend beyond competition, focusing on the broader impact of green energy and contributing to a more sustainable future.

project

Hydrodynamics and Propulsion Team are responsible for the motion transmission and the conversion of battery energy to thrust.Last year the attention of the team was more oriented towards the pod. Specifically tests and experiments were conducted to ensure not only it’s durability and robustness, but also that is going to reach the highest performance possible concerning the efficiency of the propulsion system. As a result, this year hydrodynamics and propulsion team is aiming at the optimization of the propellers. This is going to be achieved by choosing a better type of propellers that fits our needs and adjusting the basic parameters of the propeller such as the diameter, pitch, and rake. However, our propulsion system consists of contra rotating propellers and its optimization is way more challenging and its complexity is further increased because the hydrodynamic relation between the aft and forward propeller should be taken into consideration. Consequently, the following question emerges. How the targets above are going to be achieved?

Politecnico di Milano

3 participations

Team

Physis PEB is a team born in October 2021. Our first participation to the MEBC was in 2022, when we reached the podium and obtained the Eco Conception Prize. In 2023 we took part in the MEBC only partially, competing only in the static competitions and obtaining the Innovation Prize, which was a true honor for all of us.

project

The planned propulsion system consists of a 10kW electric motor powered by a Lithium-Ion battery pack and a hydrogen PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) Fuel Cell. The motor will mount custom-designed 3D printed propellers. We also developed a new transmission for contra-rotating propellers. We will proceed with thorough testing to validate this design to evaluate its performance and its mounting it on our propulsion system will be fruitful or not. In parallel to these developments, the team is currently designing the transmission, pod and casing for a new custom outboard motor.

Polytechnique de Montréal

2 participations

Team

Our team was formed in December 2019 with the goal of participating in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge and has expanded considerably since our first participation in 2022. Due to the added complexity of a 100% hydrogen system, we took two years to complete our new system. We are aiming to participate in the 2024 edition of the challenge in the Energy class. With a completely redesigned energy system and many structural and electronic improvements, we believe that we are ready to step up from our first participation and bring a challenge to the other teams.

project

The last edition of our boat was powered by a Li-ion battery. This year, every part of the propulsion system has been redesigned to welcome our new hydrogen Fuel cells. Our boat will be completely powered by the hydrogen fuel cell with the aim of avoiding adding weight with a large battery. This transition from a 100% Li-ion to 100% hydrogen makes it necessary to also add a controlled high- and low-pressure gases system and a batch of 4 cylinders. From last edition, we also changed or 4kW motor to a 5kW motor. With this new propulsion system and this new motor, we are looking to improve our races performance. In our first year we also noticed that the motor was not deep enough under water. We then proceeded to add a lowering system allowing us to get the motor down when in the water, but that we also can get back up when on shore.

Università degli Studi di Messina

2 participations

Team

The Messina Energy Boat team is made up of students from different
master’s and bachelor’s degree courses at the University and it will be the team’s second participation in the competition. The passion for the sea and new technologies related to boating are the foundations that the team has been following for the past two years to improve their boat.

project

We decided to improve and optimize our engine from the previous configuration, carrying out various modifications and improvements:
• replacing the old stem with a longer one to have deeper immersion in the water and therefore a more regular thrust trajectory, facilitating movements.
• using a new performant engine bracket which allows us to minimize the friction with the water and assure different mounting positions of the engine. The new bracket indeed is able to change tilt and trim angles, allowing us to reach maximum efficiency of the propulsion system reducing consumption
• concerning the speed control system, we decided to equip a single throttle avoiding the pedal to improve the control of the boat especially during the Endurance Race and in rough sea conditions
• providing multiple lightweight solar panels which increase the traction battery range.