Ponant wins slice of €4.8bn EU net zero funding

Ponant is to receive an undisclosed sum as part of €4.8 billion in European Commission aid to support net zero projects.

The grant is one of 85 projects across 18 countries being supported by an innovation fund financed by revenues from the EU’s emissions trading system.

The support is for the French line’s ‘Swap2Zero’ project, which aims to develop the first carbon neutral ocean cruise ship by 2030. 

“This European Commission aid is towards development of an innovative combination of renewable energies to achieve its decarbonisation objectives,”Poignant said.

The aid is one of the world’s largest funding programmes for the deployment of innovative low-carbon energies technologies.

“This decision marks a milestone in the recognition being gained by Ponant for its efforts to accelerate the transition to decarbonise the cruise sector,” the company added. 

Ponant general secretary Patrick Augier said: “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.”