Innovate
Gaïarta Innovations
We believe that nature holds the blueprint for our shared desirable future. Through integral biomimicry, we don’t just take inspiration from the living world, we embed its forms, deep wisdom and beauty into our innovations. Our regenerative design approach ensures that every solution we develop doesn’t just solve a problem but actively contributes to a thriving system.
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We operate within an innovation-driven virtuous cycle:
Develop → Prototype → Test in real-life scenarios → Learn & Rapidly Improve.
This agile, feedback-rich process accelerates breakthroughs, ensuring that each iteration is more resilient, efficient, and impactful.
As we evolve and re-design the system Chandeleur, we developed our first innovation on the core subject: energy.
Our boats have been crossing the world since the age of time, with just the energy of the wind, but today our needs have changed and our boats and other means of transport have lost their sails to other energies, mostly fossil fuels.
“We need to regenerate the concept of sails.”
SolariSails
SolariSails
First integral solar sail
We therefore imagined « SolariSails », a concept of a regenerative solar sail, working now with twined renewable energy. Combining modern wind propulsion and the integration of the newest generation of photovoltaic film into an integral membrane Sail. “SolariSails” offer a powerful and elegant alternative to fossil energies.
Inspired by organisms that perform photosynthesis and dragonfly wings (structure, generation, process, aesthetics.) The SolariSails, our platinum free, green hydrogen generating solar sail, will propel the ship, provide energy on board and to the coastal communities we will visit around the globe. These sails are designed to be regenerative through positive impact during their life cycle and the ecosystem services they provide and help to develop. These ecosystem services are provided to the rest of the ship, which itself provides them to the ecosystems in which we navigate and live (energy generation, water recovery and storage, contribution to the alkalinization of the oceans, etc.)
Flagship of the regenerative concept, SolariSails is an effective support for research, development and pedagogy towards a regenerative design system.
The electrical energy generated by this sail will eventually power a hydrogen generator by electrolysis, a major missing link for sustainable and inclusive mobility through which we can develop real solutions, particularly for maritime transport, in order to navigate healthily and sustainably.
SolariSails Phase 1
SolariSails
Technical presentation
SOLARISAILS TECHNICALLY IN [Phase 1]
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SolariSails, 1st integral solar sail, is a system for integrating a photovoltaic support in the construction of a membrane sail. This System incorporates battens for structuring and protecting the photovoltaic films as well as the anti-breakage system of dragonfly wings: the “ Nodus” ; Curvilinear triangle without film and battens, the Nodus creates a space allowing for bending and twisting. It
therefore facilitates the installation of the sail and ensures the protection of the films during strong winds.
A second network of reinforcing fiber in the manner of dragonfly wings, this wireframe taking up the Blueprint of dragonfly wing structures is applied and this also serves as a guide for the application of photovoltaic surfaces cut beforehand at points- keys, in order to keep the general structural cohesion of the sail in “membrane to membrane” fusion. Electrical connections are also optimized by following this Blueprint.
Translucency of the materials allows the mutualization of light from one sail to another. The great flexibility and ability of these films to perform well in a very wide range of light, makes it possible to generate energy in a great variety of sailing conditions.
The advantage of this system in production is that it is incremented to the current process of manufacturing membrane sails. No crucial modifications in the development phases of the membrane sails or in the materials used are necessary.
Areas of impact
In Phase 1 of SolariSails, the solar sails will be coupled with a new system that we are developing in particular with a team from the CNRS. This will allow in full autonomy to generate green hydrogen on board
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Existing sailboats
A - SolariSails electric power generation system to limit the use of the generator running on fossil fuel or replace the generator with an hydrogen fuel cell .
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B - Possibility in retrofit to disembark the diesel propulsion engine for an hybrid or electric engine.
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New sailboats
A - The solar sails are on board replacing the generator running on fossil fuel. This allows a fully decarbonated life at anchor. It is additionally proposed here to install a hydrogen fuel cell and tank.
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B - SolariSails for an hybrid propulsion at first, or 100% electric directly. The 100% electric will be reached with a safety reserve of energy (dedicated hydrogen tank). This safety backup working with an hydrogen fuel cell will deliver the necessary energy of propulsion to bring the crew and boat at safety, or to carry rescue. The evolution of regulations in favour of electricity in the maritime sector are opportunities to be seized in the coming years.
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Maritime transport
Many projects are now put into action and the revival of. Maritime transport by sail is a very dynamic market. SolariSails brings here a rather unique proposal in compared to the existing ones. This through combining modern sail propulsion and carbon free solar energy generation.
SolariSails Phase 2
SolariSails
Self sufficient Hydrogen System for the maritime sector
SOLARISAILS TECHNICALLY IN [Phase 2]
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In conjunction with various experts in the fields of chemistry, bio-mimicry and engineering, we are working in parallel on the development of phase 2 of SolariSails.
In a systemic vision, the SolariSails will supply the energy necessary for a green hydrogen generator without platinum, which will produce hydrogen on board the boat by electrolysis (The energy provided by the SolariSails will make it possible to take sea water, desalinate it, transform it into hydrogen and then compress it in dedicated hydrogen tanks )...
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This development makes it possible to achieve virtuous and clean energy self-sufficiency, both for life on board and the propulsion of small to large vessels. The SolariSails have a fantastic potential not only for leisure boats, but even more in the process of relaunching Maritime transport by Sails.
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We are opening the doors to a new era, that of not only sustainable mobility, but soon of regenerative mobility, that can be shared with a greater number of people !
Areas of impact
In Phase 2 of SolariSails, the solar sails will be coupled with a new system that we are developing in particular with a team from the CNRS. This will allow in full autonomy to generate green hydrogen on board without platinum, and therefore reach a completely autonomous and virtuous system for the entire propulsion and life on board our vessels.
Inspired by nature, driven by innovation
SolariSails
A multifaceted project
SolariSails - the art-work
Originally designed by Christophe Sachs and developed in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team, SolariSails is a work that carries a message of hope and an invitation to brighter horizons. The sails are a symbol of what leads us forwards towards the discovery of others and our world but are also ambassadors of our colours and our values. Having populated our world for 300 million years, the dragonfly has represented the energy of transformation and adaptivity through the ages ... Its appearance spreading these majestic wings indicates that it is time to get out of our chrysalis, to emerge from the waters of immaturity and to consciously reveal our true nature.
SolariSails - the flagship for regenerative design
SolariSails is an ambassador of the vision and reflections towards
" a regenerative future ". From the work of l’Archipel des Écoles Françaises du Biomimétisme, SolariSails embodies a case study for the development of positive impact biomimicry. It promotes the creation of educational materials that can be shared with students and the general public. Finally, its aesthetics and history raise awareness of the integration of technology with biology, a world more integrated into the living.
SolariSails – the bio-inspired innovation with twined energies
A bio-inspired innovation thus combining wind power for propulsion and solar power for life on board the Chandeleur ecosystem, the supply of energy to coastal communities during our missions as well as the electric propulsion of the ship.
SolariSails is also an energy generator to produce green hydrogen without platinum through another bio-inspired process developed with the CNRS of Marseille.
