Ponant has announced its selection for the INNOVFUND support for its Swap2Zero project, the first transoceanic ship aimed at carbon neutrality. This aid, granted by the European Commission and financed by revenue from the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), is one of the world’s largest funding programs for the deployment of innovative low-carbon energies technologies.

This decision marks a milestone in the recognition Ponant is garnering for its efforts to accelerate the cruise sector’s transition to decarbonization, while also highlighting the commitment of the entire industrial sector mobilized in France to anticipate the challenges of decarbonization expected by 2050. This initiative has also received support from the French government and the French Public Investment Bank (BPI) as part of the CORIMER 20231 calls for expressions of interest as Ponant’s ambitions are fully aligned with the goals set by France 2030 and the ‘Green Ship’ roadmap - aimed at accelerating transformations and the deployment of technological solutions within the maritime industry.

“Getting this grant sends a very encouraging message to teams working on this ambitious decarbonisation project. The recognition acknowledges PONANT’s pioneering spirit. With the Swap2Zero project we are building a showcase of French technology around the first zero-emission ship in operation,” says Patrick Augier, General Secretary of Ponant.

This grant validates years of research and development driven by Ponant’s R&D and New Building engineers, orchestrated by Director Mathieu Petiteau, and affirms the Swap2Zero project, which aims at zero CO22 emissions in operation with one-month autonomy, tied to six groundbreaking decarbonization technologies as building blocks:

1. A sail power system and hull providing 50% of the propulsion energy using the force of the wind.
2. A surface area totaling over 1,000m2 of next-generation, eco-designed photovoltaic panels produced in France.
3. A low temperature fuel cell operating on liquid hydrogen for propulsion, where the water and heat produced is recycled.
4. A high temperature fuel cell to meet the ship’s hotel load needs, with the heat emitted being recovered and used to produce hot water.
5. On-board carbon capture technology, coupled with the high temperature fuel cell.
6. An innovative bespoke energy management system to control and distribute power without generators being in service.

With this financial support, Ponant strengthens its position as the leader in the maritime ecological transition and continues its ambitious program to have a decarbonized ship by 2030. With the Swap2Zero project’s strong replicability potential to speed up decarbonization of the shipping industry, the company also further contributes to the development of innovative solutions for more sustainable tourism.