Fountaine Pajot is launching the first project integrating alternative energy solutions into its range of sailing catamarans and has chosen EODev’s hydrogen technology.

The maritime construction company plans to combine the power supply of its 59-ft sailing catamaran, SAMANA 59', with EODev's hydrogen power generator, REXH₂. This system will then be integrated by Alternatives Energies, partner of EODev, located in La Rochelle, near the Fountaine Pajot shipyard.

In this first configuration, the SAMANA 59' will have a REXH2 able to supply up to 70kW and a 44kWh LiFePO (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery approved for maritime use, designed by EVE Systems and Alternative Energies. The hydrogen system will consist of a battery, its cooling system, a distribution board, the hydrogen supply line, and a tank with a capacity of 7.5kg of hydrogen. If necessary, depending on the user profile, additional tanks may be optionally integrated into the boat in order to offer extended range. The overall management will be ensured by an automated Power Management System specifically developed by EODev, which calculates the remaining range according to the user profile, in the same way as in a car.

According to EODev, the absence of moving parts in the fuel cell will guarantee simplified and predictive maintenance, for a service life of at least 15,000 hours. Finally, the REXH2 being a "plug and play" solution, there will be no need to be a hydrogen engineer to operate the boat. As in modern cars, the system will be fully automated and connected, with data from all components being collected and archived remotely. 

The first SAMANA 59' equipped with EODev’s technology will be launched at the beginning of 2022. Fountaine Pajot will then be able to test the entire system in real conditions on boats which are intended to sail over long distances, in order to improve their autonomy without reducing their environmental performance or the space available for life on board. The next step will be the integration of EODev systems in other units, with different sizes and user profiles.