Geps unveils all-electric hybrid tender in green marine energy crowd sourcing drive
French green marine energy company Geps has unveiled plans for an all-electric hybrid tender for yachts as it kicked off a crowd funding campaign to raise €400,000
Geps is using crowd sourcing to fund its MLiner 1MW, a movable 30m diameter floating green energy generation platform that combines solar, wind, tidal and wave energy converters, as well as an electricity storage system.
Geps Techno president Jean-Luc Longeroche, said: “This type of financing will keep total control of our technology and what we want to do.”
The Eco-Tender features solar panels and wind turbines that produce enough energy to power the vessel. The tender’s roof is retractable and features an open lounge in a “design that is both environmentally friendly and in line with the expectations and demands of luxury boat owners”.
At present, the tender will be available to crowd funding participants who make a donation of €2 million, but Geps said: “We will start a regular production of the Hybrid Tender as soon as we get our first order.”
Geps R&D director Philippe Magaldi said the rapid growth of marine protected areas has fueled the drive towards green marine energy. He said: “These areas already include some of the most spectacular areas in the world such as Galapagos Islands or Alaska. The owners of exceptional boats are willing to keep on exploring exceptional areas: with the Eco-Tender, we give them the opportunity to sail anywhere, with a zero carbon footprint.”
Gepps has launched a number of green marine energy products, including a power generating bench for dinghies. Magaldi told YBW.com that next month Geps will unveil the “the first engine in the world that is able to harvest four different energy sources in the same time.”
Once the engine is launched Geps plans to develop autonomous pleasure craft, as well as kit for sailing craft to “provide a full autonomy in electricity generation, both for the propelling system and the onboard energy”.