Angola Westbrook Racing, ESA and EOMAP partner to advance the environmental assessment of electric powerboat racing in the E1 Championship 2026.
Angola Westbrook Racing, the European Space Agency (ESA), and EOMAP have kicked off a new strategic partnership. They introduce satellite-based monitoring into the race team’s environmental monitoring framework throughout the E1 Championship, a series of electric powerboat racing. It is a new step in applying Earth Observation science to water sports events.
Earth Observation Enhances Sustainability in E-Boat Racing
The collaboration made its debut at the Lake Como race on 24 and 25 April 2026. Building on the emissions reductions achieved through electric propulsion, the initiative introduces a new space-based approach to electric raceboat operations.
Phil Allen, Team Principal, Angola Westbrook Racing, said: „Working with EOMAP and ESA allows our team to take a further step in structuring its sustainability approach. The ability to access science-based, near real-time environmental data brings a new level of insight into how race operations interact with local ecosystems, starting with Lake Como and expanding across the season.“
Monitoring Water Quality and Floating Plastic Debris
EOMAP will deliver high-resolution water quality monitoring at race venues using satellite data from ESA Copernicus Sentinel-2 and Planet SuperDove. The approach enables continuous and non-intrusive environmental insights.
Monitoring will focus on turbidity levels to identify sediment disturbance linked to race activity or external factors. In parallel, analysis of floating plastic debris will help detect accumulation zones, track pollution trends, and support targeted clean-up actions in cooperation with local authorities and environmental organisations.
Dr. Eva-Maria Haas, Head of Strategic Accounts Europe at EOMAP said: „High-resolution satellite data can tell a lot about water quality. Through the insights we create, we wish to help Westbrook Racing better understand and manage the ecological footprint of the races. Together, we will demonstrate how Earth Observation can guide the responsible development of water-based events.“
Data-Driven Decisions and Transparency
All data will be integrated into a cloud-based analytics platform – EOMAP’s eoapp AQUA, providing actionable intelligence for race planning, operational decisions, and post-event assessments. The framework also supports transparent reporting to stakeholders, local communities, and fans, while promoting environmental awareness.
Advancing Sustainable Water-Based Events
The initiative’s aim is to strengthen more responsible event organisation through improved, satellite-based insights.
Davide Coppola, Head of Space Applications Initiatives, European Space Agency (ESA) commented: „Implemented under the ESA Business Applications and Space Solutions, this project is set to further demonstrate the key role of space applications and space-enabled innovation in strengthening sustainability approaches across multiple sectors and industries.“
After Lake Como, EOMAP’s monitoring framework will be deployed across all other E1 Championship race locations in 2026.
EOMAP, a Fugro company, delivers environmental intelligence on aquatic environments using satellite technology. As a trusted partner to agencies and industries worldwide, the team supports applications from monitoring drinking water to sustainable infrastructure planning and coastal resilience. EOMAP is not only spearheading Satellite Derived Bathymetry (SDB) for coastal applications. Its award-winning web app, eoapp™ AQUA, provides water quality insights from space within a few clicks. Committed to UN SDGs and climate goals, EOMAP aims to reinforce the sustainable development of water ecosystems.
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Bildquelle: Ricardo Pinto / Westbrook Racing