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Day: 28 November 2023

Hydrogen-fuelled drones among exciting innovations presented at Monaco Hydrogen Forum   

by: Stephanie Horsman
28/11/2023

Could hydrogen-powered drones provide a solution to cutting emissions caused by the transportation sector? One company attending the Monaco Hydrogen Forum certainly thinks so.  

Now in its second year, the Monaco Hydrogen Forum, which is being hosted at the Hôtel Hermitage’s Salle Eiffel between 27th and 28th November, has set itself the lofty ambition of contributing “to reversing the curve of the environmental impact of mobility in our societies thanks to renewable hydrogen”.  

Transportation currently accounts for an estimated 25% of all carbon emissions, so the replacing of fossil fuels in this ‘sector’ with cleaner and greener options, such as hydrogen, would provide a considerable step towards lowering overall emission levels and have a big impact on national decarbonisation strategies.  

One company to take this challenge head on is Heven Drones, which presented its latest generation of sleek hydrogen-fuelled drones on the first day of the event. The ground-breaking range could, according to the company, “revolutionise the drone industry and redefine the possibilities of hydrogen-powered flight”. 

One half of the range, the smaller H2D200 drone, can carry payloads up to 4.5 kilograms and has an astonishing 510-kilometre range with extended flight times of up to four hours. To top it off, it is remarkably precise and can hover with accuracy.  

The larger drone, the H2D250, can carry up to 10 kilograms for 750 kilometres. It has an operating time of up to eight hours whilst maintaining precision.  

Together, the two new devices could open the door to a variety of applications, such as an eco-impactful method of making multiple deliveries.  

“The Age of Hydrogen is upon us,” says John Rossant, the president of Monaco Hydrogen Alliance, which is behind the pioneering event. “The most abundant element in the universe now holds out the tantalising promise of being one of the most important keys to a cleaner and more sustainable planet.” 

For more information on the Monaco Hydrogen Forum, click here.

 

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Photo via Heven Drones   

 

Prince Albert II Challenge to attract top rowers from around the globe

by: Stephanie Horsman
28/11/2023
prince albert II challenge

The rowing world’s elite are heading to Monaco for the Prince Albert II Challenge this weekend, which will feature a traditional endurance race alongside sprints, mixed doubles and solo competitions.  

Now in its 18th year, the Prince Albert II Challenge is set to bring a dramatic conclusion to the rowing season over two days, from 2nd to 3rd December.  

BIG NAMES AND BIG PRIZES 

As every year, the Challenge has attracted some pretty serious contenders, and organisers say that there will be a total of 110 participants making up 22 teams from 18 nations in the 2023 edition.  

Of these, there are 24 world champions, 10 Olympians and the two Tokyo Olympic medallists Marieke Keijser and Magdalena Lobnig.  

The healthy cash awards will see the winning team take home €4,000, while the second placing team will receive €3,000. The team in third will get €2,000 and there is also a €1,000 prize for fourth. 

UNIQUE FORMAT 

Teams are made up of two women, two men and a cox, who can be any gender. At least one member of the individual teams must take part in each of the Challenge races.  

The races themselves will be a mix of four-kilometre endurance races in the waters off the Principality as well as 500 metre sprints as tests of speed.  

Each race counts for the general classification and the team with the greatest number of points at the end will win. 

The Sunday finals are to be held along the coastline, rather than offshore, for better spectator viewing, and drones and on-boards will also be used in order to live stream the races as they happen on YouTube and Facebook. 

For more information and the full schedule, visit the official website here.

  

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Photo credit: Ed Wright Images