Paris & Fortaleza, November 16, 2023 – Renewable energy company Qair welcomes Energy Observer, the world first autonomous vessel powered by a mix of renewable energies and hydrogen, in Fortaleza, from November 16 to 24, for a unique stopover in Brazil.

This first stop in South America will be an opportunity for Energy Observer, first French ambassador for the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, to share her technologies and solutions with local students, industrials and officials in an event organized by Qair Brasil, with the support of the Government of the State of Ceará, the Fortaleza City Hall, the Ceará-based company CSI, and other partners of Energy Observer, such as Air Liquide, Toyota, and Accor Group.

In addition to visits of the vessel, guests will experience immersive exhibitions covering energy transition topics and the study of marine environments at Qair’s Experience Dome, powered by an EODev (Energy Observer Developments) renewable hydrogen generator.

An ongoing partnership

Driven by a common ambition to accelerate the energy transition, Qair became Official Partner of the Energy Observer’s round-the-world Odyssey in 2022.

After Vietnam last year and Seychelles earlier this year, where Qair signed the first Seychellois floating solar Power Purchase Agreement onboard Energy Observer, Qair teams are very pleased to welcome this 83rd stopover of the catamaran’s Odyssey.

“We are very proud of being one of Energy Observer’s partners and very supportive with the other partners of this human, technological and maritime innovative odyssey.  As a renewable energy company, Qair is committed to deliver innovative clean energy solutions, and preserve the environment in which we operate. Energy Observer thus offers us an access to a live laboratory for the energy transition, testing technologies that are and will be deployed on larger scales, in particular in Brazil, thanks to the expertise and commitment of Qair Brasil”, Louis Blanchard, CEO of Qair.

“With great enthusiasm, we inaugurate a new era in energy transition. Today, Qair has the honor of introducing to Brazil the world’s first hydrogen-powered ship, the Energy Observer. This milestone represents not only technological advancement but also a concrete commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. Energy Observer, officially an ambassador for these goals, arrives to disseminate knowledge about the technologies that will shape the future of energy production. We are proud to support this significant project in collaboration with essential partners such as Air Liquide, Toyota, and the Accor network”, adds Jorge Borrell, CEO of Qair Brasil.

“As a passionate lover of the sea, I dream of decarbonizing the maritime sector. In this mission, our collaboration with Qair has been invaluable, demonstrating the power of partnerships in driving sustainable change. Hydrogen is essential for decarbonizing industry and mobility, and our presence here in Fortaleza is highly symbolic. Thanks to the innovative efforts of Qair in harnessing wind and solar energy, the conditions are optimal for generating low-cost green electrons. This enables the production of hydrogen at a competitive price, challenging the dominance of fossil fuels. Together with Qair, this step marks a crucial moment in our quest for a sustainable and environmentally friendly energy future.”, Victorien Erussard, President, Captain and Founder of Energy Observer. 

The Energy Transition in Brazil

Over the last five years Qair has developed, built and now operates more than 600 MW of wind and solar projects in Brazil.

Qair also develops 12.5 GW of renewable energy projects in the country, including two massive renewable hydrogen production projects of 2.24GW each, located in the industrial ports of Pecém (Ceará) and Suape (Pernambuco) to produce green H2, and e-molecules to be used locally and exported to Europe. The projects will be mainly powered by Qair Brasil’s own wind and solar plants.

Thanks to a collaboration between EODev, Qair, Air Liquide and CSI Gerpower, Qair introduced in 2023 in Brazil the GEH2® hydrogen generator. Made in France by EODev this generator will be commercially used for the first time in the country to power the exhibition dome, paving the way to major events across the region to be powered by a clean and renewable energy source.