“In the event of a blackout, we have already offered our neighbors to come and recharge their laptops with us,” jokes Jean-Marc Lalane, the co-founder of Monkilowatt. In Toulouse, on the former military base of Francazal, the small start-up is lucky not to worry about a possible cut this winter, nor even to see its heating bill explode. She “inhabits” her own invention: A Containwatt, a “autonomous shelter”, very robust, fully wired and which only depends for energy on the solar panels deployed on its roof. The pilot Containwatt is sedentary but the idea is that it can be deployed everywhere. It actually fits in a maritime container, “second hand”, of 25 m2. But once deployed, what can be done “in one day “, without being a logistician or an experienced electrician, the space under the 90 solar panels is transformed into a modular shelter, powered by batteries guaranteed for twelve years.
One can imagine the interest for soldiers in overseas operations to be able to settle so quickly, in hostile terrain, without lining the ground of the base with cables and without depending on anyone for their communications or their daily life. The idea of Containwatt also arose during a conversation “with an army colonel”.
Desert hospitals in Chad and Sudan
And if negotiations are progressing on this point, it is on completely different ground that Monkilowatt has found its inaugural client. The first two “autonomous and low-carbon” shelters will be delivered at the end of the year to Médecins sans Frontières and will serve as field hospitals in Chad and South Sudan. With modular tent spaces of 150 m2 that can accommodate both offices and treatment rooms that will not generate pollution. “It is a great pride to think that our autonomous shelters will be able to save lives in the middle of the desert”, assures Jean-Marc Lalane.
The one who, like his partner, has “thirty years of experience in the field of energy supply”, recognizes that the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis and the series of natural disasters considerably open up the Containwatt market. The concept has not escaped the survivalists, who regularly send the company invitations to their specialized fairs.
The Paris Olympics and houses for seasonal workers
But there are also happier prospects for this portable shelter. And in particular that of the Paris 2024 Olympics, “for sites where power supply problems could arise, such as the Versailles lake for example”, explains Jean-Marc Lalane.
Connected press room, shelter for officials, the Toulouse start-up will apply by partnering with a famous equipment rental company. Easy to install, the Containwatt could also be invited to cultural and festive events. Jean-Marc Lalane does not rule out conquering the private market either. In particular, he imagines seasonal workers in “house on their back” mode, carrying their Containwatt “six months at sea and six months in the mountains”.
“For around 220,000 or 230,000 euros, and if they have land, they could have 100 m2 of enclosed housing, energy included”, advances the Toulousain.