WannSea is a student team from TU Berlin, bringing together members from a wide range of degree programmes around a shared conviction: that boatbuilding can, and should, be sustainable. Returning to the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge in July 2026, the team takes on a double challenge by competing in both the Energy Class and the AI Class. Where sustainability has rarely shaped how boats are built, WannSea sets out to change that, working with recycled and alternative materials such as natural fibres and eco-friendly fibre composites to lower environmental impact while making the boat lighter and faster. For the team, every design choice is an opportunity to prove that environmental responsibility and competitive performance can go hand in hand.
Our work combines innovative propulsion technologies with environmentally responsible boatbuilding. We design and build vessels using recycled and bio-based materials, such as natural fibres and ecological composites, to reduce environmental impact while improving structural performance and keeping the boat light.
Our current boat features a custom-designed electric motor, a bespoke propeller, advanced battery storage and integrated solar panels, all monitored through state-of-the-art electronics and sensors that turn every run into usable data. Through this approach, our goals are to advance zero-emission propulsion, promote recyclable construction methods, integrate intelligent navigation systems, and demonstrate that sustainable maritime innovation can deliver both high performance and real environmental impact. Looking further ahead, we want to push our material research even harder by trialling mycelium as a new, fully bio-based building material on our boat.
