Ocean racing committed to the ecological transition: a report from Energy Observer

On the occasion of the Route du Rhum, Victorien Erussard, founder of Energy Observer, the energy self-sufficient catamaran of which Groupe BPCE is a principal partner, went out to meet celebrated skippers working in favor of a more sustainable form of ocean racing.

Behind the impressive technical and sporting performances, ocean racing comes with a high environmental cost. On the boats sailed by Armel Le Cléac’h, skipper of the Maxi Banque Populaire XI, François Gabart, Roland Jourdain and Yannick Bestaven, a number of innovative solutions are being tested and implemented to reduce the carbon footprint of racing in the form of hydrogen generators, wind turbines and solar panels.

The stakes are high: the ability to combine high performance with sustainable development and high sailing speeds with the lowest possible carbon footprint. Just like the Energy Observer – a totally autonomous laboratory ship propelled around the world using renewable forms of energy without generating any greenhouse gas emissions – the racing boats are aiming to achieve energy autonomy with a resolute commitment to their own ecological transition.

Groupe BPCE has made the fight against climate change a core principle of its 2024 strategic plan. The partnership with Energy Observer is perfectly aligned with the Group’s ambition to play a major role in the energy transition, notably by helping its customers to overcome their own transition challenges.