Monaco Energy Boat Challenge

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2026 SeaLab Class Participants

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participants 2026

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Y-H2O (Shenzhen) Technology Co., Ltd.

TEAM

YuShui FeiXing (Shenzhen) Technology Co., Ltd., founded in Shenzhen in July 2025 and incubated by the Shenzhen Institute of Science and Innovation, develops high-performance smart hydrofoils for consumer and industrial vessels. By combining advanced hardware with proprietary control algorithms, the team enables autonomous route perception and real-time posture stabilization to improve efficiency and reduce energy use. Led by founder and CEO Wu Guan (educated at the University of Genoa and Polytechnic University of Milan, with further doctoral studies at the University of Kuala Lumpur), the team brings 10+ years of experience spanning vessel design, composites, and intelligent control.

Project

This is a water vehicle that integrates intelligent technology, comfort, and efficient performance. It adopts an advanced hydrofoil design to effectively reduce navigation resistance, enhancing speed and stability, making it suitable for various scenarios such as family outings, leisure activities, and short-distance commuting.
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HYDROGEN FUEL RACING

Hydrogen Electric
Hydrogen Fuel Racing Team

TEAM

Hydrogen Fuel Racing is a multidisciplinary student team from the University of Glasgow, composed of over 80 participants across three divisions: Land, Sea, and Air. Our mission is to develop cutting-edge vessels and shape the next generation of innovators driving the Hydrogen fuelled future. Our Sea division is ready to showcase cutting-edge hydrogen technology on the international stage.

Project

The Vital Spark Project is a collaborative effort between the University of Glasgow’s Hydrogen Fuel Racing Team and Plus Zero. The vessel features an advanced hydrogen combustion powertrain, engineered with both performance and scalability in mind. While optimised for this specific platform, the underlying technology is readily adaptable for the use in larger vessels. With a larger, more motivated team this year, The Vital Spark is gearing up to compete in the MEBC, marking an exciting new chapter in our pursuit of sustainable marine innovation.
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3. H2-WATT
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H2-WATT

Heriot-Watt University
H2Watt Team (1)

TEAM

H2-Watt is a team of multi-disciplinary engineering students from Heriot-Watt University in Scotland, bringing together a team of over 20 students. The team works on the ‘Experiment of Leith H2’ project, repurposing an old speedboat hull into a new, hydrogen-powered boat. Through the incredible support of our industrial partners and academics at our university, we aim to provide a learning opportunity to the students involved through real hands-on engineering.

Project

Our project is the ‘Experiment of Leith H2’, inspired by the legendary 18th century Scottish catamaran. By repurposing this 30-year-old hull, we aim to make the project as sustainable as possible. It aims to show the practicality of solid-state hydrogen storage in small-scale maritime projects, paving the way for a greener future and hydrogen solutions in the industry. This solution runs at a low pressure (less than 1 bar), providing a safer way of storing hydrogen in a small vessel.
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RED WAVE
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RED WAVE UNIVERSITY OF BOLOGNA

Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna
RED WAVE BOLOGNA

TEAM

The Red Wave team, established in 2024 within the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Bologna, combines passion, innovation, and engineering to create concrete solutions with a strong focus on sustainability. Our goal is to compete in the SeaLab Class with the Competr engine demonstrator, developing an environmentally friendly, all-electric boat. Every team member has given their best effort to make this project ambitious and cutting-edge, helping to grow research in sustainable solutions and improve the field of electric marine mobility.

Project

Our project advances electric propulsion and environmental sustainability through strong partnerships with companies and research institutes. This year’s headline innovation is an axial-flow electric motor that optimises the powertrain and improves energy efficiency. Beyond the drivetrain, we emphasise circular design: reducing waste, improving waste-handling, and expanding recovery and recycling of materials. Carbon fibre off-cuts, for instance, are donated to a composite-recycling initiative. Specialist partners also developed the on-board electronics, and another partner supplied the dinghy platform used for testing. Collaboration with research institutions is central to creating innovative industrial solutions that leverage eco-sustainable materials. Together, these efforts push electric propulsion forward while encouraging the adoption of greener technologies in commercial contexts, reinforcing our team’s commitment to a cleaner, efficient, technologically advanced future.
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SOLAR BOAT TWENTE
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SOLAR BOAT TWENTE

University of Twente
Solar Boat Twente Team

TEAM

We are a student team consisting of 21 enthusiastic students from many different study backgrounds and coming from both the University of Twente and the Saxion university of applied sciences. Since 2016 we have designed, produced, and raced with solar powered boats, but this year marks a change in course for Solar Boat Twente. We will transition to a boat powered by a methanol fuel cell. This transition creates exciting new opportunities for innovation, technical advancement, and the development of creative sustainable solutions in the maritime industry. This complies with our vision, guiding us since the creation of the team: Challenge and inspire students to develop and implement technical innovations that push the maritime sector toward greater sustainability. Not only on technical aspects will we transition, but our brand identity also changes.

Project

Our goal this year is to achieve a proof of concept of a methanol- and battery-powered boat capable of both sailing and foiling, that will serve as a foundation for future teams to build upon. As a result of the ambitious scope of the project, we place less emphasis on being competitive this year. Instead, our focus is on demonstrating progress, innovation, and teamwork by showing the capabilities of the boat in showcasing events, primarily in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge. This allows us to demonstrate what the boat developed this year can achieve in a remarkably short time, while inspiring others and proving the potential for a sustainable maritime industry. We also aim to create brand recognition for our new identity, building and maintaining strong partnerships with companies and inspiring and educating students.
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SWISS SOLAR BOAT

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Swiss Solar Boat Team

TEAM

Swiss Solar Boat is a student initiative from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), founded in 2019, that unites over 75 students from diverse disciplines. After the success of its first prototype, Le Dahu, which achieved a 13 km hydrogen-powered crossing between Lausanne and Évian, the team is now developing a new boat: the REF (Renewable Energy Foiler). This next-generation prototype, powered by both hydrogen and solar energy, aims to push the boundaries of performance. Through this project, Swiss Solar Boat promotes clean technologies in the maritime sector while providing students with a unique opportunity to apply their academic knowledge to real-world challenges and contribute to the future of sustainable mobility.

Project

Our project aims to develop a high-performance solar-hydrogen foiling boat designed for efficient, zero-emission navigation. The vessel accommodates one pilot and two passengers, reaches a top speed of 35 knots, and offers a range of 160 km. Its innovation lies in a hybrid hull structure combining okoumé plywood and carbon fibre, reducing manufacturing emissions by 85% compared with conventional composites. The propulsion system integrates the motors directly into the torpedoes, enabling a direct connection to the propellers and minimising mechanical losses. The project aims are to compete in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge to benchmark our technology against the best zero-emission prototypes and complete a full circumnavigation of Lake Geneva (160 km) to demonstrate real-world reliability, endurance, and energy efficiency.
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TECNICO SOLAR BOAT

Instituto Superior Técnico

TEAM

Técnico Solar Boat (TSB) is a student-led project dedicated to the design and manufacture of sustainable and autonomous vessels. With over a decade of history and a fleet of seven boats, TSB is defined by its ambition and multidisciplinary expertise, pioneering technologies in solar energy, hydrogen propulsion, hydro foiling, and autonomous systems. Currently, the team is consolidating its cumulative knowledge into its most advanced prototype to date: São Gabriel 01. This vessel represents TSB’s most ambitious challenge, integrating years of innovation into a single, high-performance platform.

Project

This year, Técnico Solar Boat aims to build upon the previous season’s foundations by refining São Gabriel’s existing systems while integrating cutting-edge technologies. The most significant advancements focus on hydrogen propulsion and full autonomy. The team is currently engineering the integration of a 100kW fuel cell to demonstrate hydrogen’s potential as the definitive energy source for the future of maritime transport. Simultaneously, the development of a steer-by-wire system is underway to achieve full vessel autonomy, ensuring the prototype is prepared to meet the complex technological challenges of tomorrow.
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TU DELFT HYDRO MOTION TEAM

Delft University of Technology
TU Delft Hydro Motion Team

TEAM

The TU Delft Hydro Motion Team consists of 26 driven and interdisciplinary students, combining expertise in engineering, design, and management. United by a shared ambition, the team works year-round to push technical boundaries while performing at the highest competitive level. What sets the TU Delft Hydro Motion Team apart is the balance between performance and purpose: racing to win, while proving that sustainable technologies can outperform conventional solutions. Each generation builds on the legacy of the previous team, constantly raising the bar for zero-emission sailing.

Project

This year, the TU Delft Hydro Motion Team is taking on the challenge of designing, building, and racing a liquid hydrogen-powered foiling boat. The boat combines innovative hydrogen technology with cutting-edge hydrodynamics. With an improved hull design and the integration of liquid hydrogen storage, the team aims to push the boundaries of sustainable maritime transportation. The innovation lies in utilising liquid hydrogen as a fuel source, requiring advanced storage and pressure regulating techniques to maintain the right conditions of the cryogenic hydrogen. Additionally, this year’s team integrated a new foil design. By tackling these complex engineering challenges, the team not only prepares for a competitive race, but also showcases the potential of liquid hydrogen as a viable alternative in the maritime industry.
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