EDITED BY THE EDITORIAL TEAM :: PHOTOS: SUPPLIED
The recent mooring of the Energy Observer’s team on the shores of the Mother City highlighted the Cape Grace hotel’s commitment to seeking sustainable energy solutions for the hospitality sector
The Cape Grace hotel recently hosted the Energy Observer team and various stakeholders at their Commitment to Sustainability event. Cape Grace GM, Leon Meyer, led an enlightening panel discussion around the potential use of renewable energies in the hospitality industry.
Victorien Erussard
A HELPING HAND FROM MOTHER NATURE
Energy Observer is the world’s first self-sufficient, hydrogen-powered, zero-emission sea vessel that has been criss crossing the oceans to develop sustainable solutions and raise awareness of ecological transition issues.
The project was born in 2013 thanks to Victorien Erussard, a merchant navy officer and ocean racer. Aware of the urgency to take better care of the planet, he got together a group of sailors, scientists, engineers and reporters to create the first self-sufficient vessel capable of drawing its energy from nature whilst also preserving it.
From left: Geir Tellefsen, Luc Bourserie, Leon Meyer (Cape Grace General Manager), Rafael Sa, Kristian Cox, and David Champion
AN EXPEDITION OF LEARNING
Energy Observer has become a movement, an around the world odyssey, where every stopover is an opportunity to learn, to understand and to share the different energies.
Their recent visit to South Africa highlighted the country’s challenges around energy transition – it draws 92.7% of its energy from coal making it the highest emitter of carbon dioxide in Africa, with a world ranking in the top 15.
From left: Louis-Noël Viviès (Energy Observer General Manager), Siphesihle Ndlovu (Cape Grace’s ESG Analyst) Victorien Erussard, Leon Meyer (Cape Grace GM), Verona Oliver (Director, Talent & Culture, Sub-Saharan Africa, Accor Group)
JUMPING ON BOARD
Accor joined its odyssey in 2017, and injected new momentum into the project by investing in the Energy Observer Developments scheme (EODev) or to make the hotel of the future a reality through new technologies.
As an Accor hotel, Cape Grace is delighted to engage with pioneering partners such as the Energy Observer in order to create impactful solutions for the hotel and develop a culture that embraces sustainable and regenerative tourism.
