• French skipper Fabrice Amedeo sails over 1,500 kilometres from Cuxhaven (Schleswig-Holstein) to Lorient (Brittany).
• In preparation for the "Vendée Globe" circumnavigation, Fabrice Amedeo is testing how he can cover 100% of his high-tech racing yacht's energy requirements from renewable energy.
• Sensors record scientific data on the quality of the seawater in the North Sea (e.g. CO2 and salt content, temperatures, microplastics, environmental DNA).
• Hager Group and its intelligent energy management brand E3/DC are supporting the research mission as part of this environmental partnership.

French skipper Fabrice Amedeo sails from Cuxhaven in Schleswig-Holstein to Lorient in Brittany in July. During his journey, sensors collect scientific data on water quality. Fabrice Amedeo is receiving sustainability support from Hager Group and its E3/DC brand, which has been sponsoring the skipper's environmental project since 2021. The journey will also show whether the energy requirements of his high-tech racing yacht can be covered exclusively by renewable energies. The collaboration with Hager Group and scientific research institutions is aimed at a better understanding of the effects of global warming and preserving the sensitive ecosystem of the oceans.

Background information
Fabrice Amedeo, a former French journalist and passionate skipper, will take part in the prestigious "Vendée Globe" round-the-world race for the third time on 10 November 2024. His racing sailboat is equipped with state-of-the-art oceanographic sensors that collect a wide range of scientific data to advance marine research. Amedeo is being supported by Hager Group, a Franco-German family business, and its E3/DC brand, which specialises in electricity storage and intelligent energy management. This partnership is an example of successful cooperation across national borders in the service of marine science and environmental protection.

Technical equipment and goals 
Fabrice Amedeo's racing yacht is a floating laboratory equipped with various sensors that provide valuable data on the state of the oceans. The most important instruments include sensors that measure the CO2 and salt content as well as the temperature of the seawater. This data is transmitted to renowned research institutes such as Ifremer in Brest, the Geomar Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research in Kiel and the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen. The information collected is crucial for understanding ocean conditions and global climate change.

A second sensor pack on the boat uses water filters of different sizes to determine the proportion of microplastics in seawater. This data helps scientists to better understand the spread and impact of microplastics on marine ecosystems. A third sensor collects environmental DNA data by filtering ocean water to create a biological map of the marine organisms in it. This advanced technology, developed by New Zealand's Cawthron Institute, makes it possible to detect the presence of organisms ranging from microscopic viruses to large marine mammals such as whales.

Renewables on board
A key objective of Fabrice Amedeo and the Hager Group is to cover the energy requirements of the vessel exclusively with renewable energies. The boat is equipped with 15 m² of solar panels and two hydrogenerators that recharge the batteries while underway. This equipment enables Amedeo to sail self-sufficiently for up to 36 hours. Hager Group and E3/DC have contributed their expertise to optimise the energy management system and the dimensioning of the batteries. 

Together with Amadeo's team, they developed the technology for energy supply, storage and distribution to make the sailing yacht 100% energy self-sufficient. One particular challenge: the oceanographic sensors increase the yacht's usual energy requirements by 15 per cent. For the solar panels, the choice fell on particularly powerful flexible solar cells that adapt to the shape and conditions of the boat. This meant that even the smallest angle could be utilised as a surface to generate solar energy.

This innovative use of renewable energy on board an ocean-going sailing boat is a significant step towards sustainable shipping and demonstrates Hager Group's commitment to environmental technologies. "With projects like this, we combine technology with environmental awareness. It is something that is very close to our hearts. Our vision is to be largely independent of external resources and as energy self-sufficient as possible. Fabrice Amedeo will achieve this with his boat on the ocean; we are aiming for the same independence from fossil fuels with our buildings on land," says Marc Helfter, Technical Innovation Director at Hager Group, summarising the philosophy behind the partnership.

Involvement of Hager Group
Hager Group has been supporting Amedeo since 2021 to promote renewable energy and research into maritime living environments. The collaboration underlines the common goal of developing sustainable solutions for environmental protection and reducing the environmental impact for future generations.
One example of Hager Group's environmentally friendly product initiatives is a new switch programme that consists of at least 27% plastic collected from the seashore. In collaboration with Plastic Bank, a company that collects plastic waste before it reaches the ocean ecosystem, and the supplier Avient, this plastic is recycled and processed into new products. 

The French and Spanish markets are leading the way here. They are already using the material in the production of the cubyko switch range (counterpart to the Berker W.1 for the German market). Customers can choose between the existing range or the product made of Ocean Bound Plastic - called cubyko leaf. For the German market, 28 products from the W.1 switch range are planned, some of which will be made from Ocean Bound Plastic.
This product development reflects Hager Group's particular commitment to innovation and sustainability.

Fabrice Amedeo and the Ocean Calling Fund
Fabrice Amedeo founded the Ocean Calling Fund in 2017 out of his passion for sailing. The aim of this fund is to bring people and organisations together to work together to preserve the oceans. The Ocean Calling Fund supports both scientific research and practical measures such as clean-up campaigns. The financial resources flow into organisations that pursue ecological or social goals to benefit the world's oceans and future generations.

Fabrice Amedeo emphasises the importance of his commitment: "I keep noticing that the air masses off the coast are becoming increasingly unstable. We must preserve the sensitive ecosystem of the oceans and put a stop to pollution!"