There are many and varied ways to adapt, evolve and overcome myriad challenges in order to become more sustainable and attract the next generation of yacht owners and charter guests.
In line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the requirements of the next generation of superyacht owners will focus the market’s efforts on the environment and sustainability across all market sectors. What has to change? Are we prepare for the future? How much energy can we save if we rethink design and operations? Which next-generation fuels, or mixture thereof, will use in the next few years? Which sectors are ripe for innovation and investment? Which resources and materials we need to avoid? How can the industry make things happen?
Hydrogen-Powered Yachts
As the need to combat climate change becomes urgent, companies are turning their attention to hydrogen as a possible fuel source.
Over the last few years the technology has become available for other modes of transport to use hydrogen as a fuel: there are now trucks, trains, cars and even some planes that are powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
Yachting specifically is a pastime that relies heavily on fossil fuels; the unfortunate truth is that sailing your own superyacht is one of the most carbon-intensive activities on the planet. As such, moving from diesel to a hydrogen fuel source could be the sustainable way the planet needs from the marine industry.
Luckily, we already have a few examples of this tecnologie. Some of them:
The Energy Observer uses solar power, hydrogen and battery energy storage and a small amount of high-tech wind. “Observer is exploring practical solutions whilst developing new technologies to accelerate ecological transition”. More info: https://www.energy-observer.org/
The Aqua, the 360 ft plus superyacht prototype was developed and revealed in 2019. The prototype has a top speed of 17 knots with a range of 3,750 nautical miles.
Stored on board in two 28-ton vacuum isolated tanks, Aqua’s liquid hydrogen is converted into electricity using proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEM). This is used across the yacht not only to provide power for propulsion but also for interior and auxiliary services. As water is the only by-product, Aqua will produce zero carbon emissions – thanks to the electric propulsion, the superyacht is also very quiet and has minimal vibrations. Info: https://sinot.com/
The Nemesis One is a jet-black catamaran engineered by experts to foil at over 50 knots.
Its towering 80m-plus soft autonomous wingsail is capable of generating huge power and twin L-shaped foils are controlled by an automatic flight system.
The 750m2 of solar panels and the hydrogen-electric powertrain appear almost as a detail to a tech and luxury project. Info: https://nemesisyachts.com/nemesis-one
