These 5 Luxury Yachts Take on the Seas With Eco-Conscious Engines
In yachting, as elsewhere, “sustainability” has become a go-to buzzword, typically more bluster than breakthrough. Alternative methods of propulsion—hydrogen fuel cells and green methanol for superyachts, say, or diesel-electric power for vessels under 100 feet—have been discussed for years yet are often dismissed by builders as too complex and expensive.
But now a band of pioneering yards and owners are designing never-before- seen eco-friendlier systems with the technical bona fides to be legitimate game changers. They not only reduce emissions but also offer other tangible benefits over the status quo, from silent anchoring to smoother maneuvering. Here, five yachts charting a course for the future, today.
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Sanlorenzo 50 Steel | 164 feet
Reformer fuel-cell technology
Sanlorenzo’s executive chairman, Massimo Perotti, has been so resolute about sustainability that he built the world’s first methanol-powered prototype for himself, as proof of concept. His 50 Steel Almax, a four-year project with Siemens Energy that features a stylish split-level layout and retro-chic interior from Lissoni & Partners, converts green methanol into hydrogen using a device called a Reformer. The resulting hydrogen then feeds the fuel cells, producing enough electricity to power 90 percent of the yacht’s hotel load. The engine-and-generator room occupies about 775 square feet under the aft beach club, while the 118-square-foot fuel-cell cluster is located toward the bow. Perotti sees his boat as a starting point. “Considering the pace of innovation,” he says, “it’s likely that within 10 years, we’ll see the arrival of a 100 percent methanol-powered propulsion system.”
Feadship Project 821 | 390 feet
Hydrogen storage and fuel-cell technology
The largest yacht ever launched in the Netherlands, Feadship Project 821 presents a host of amenities that surpass what’s offered on many other custom gigayachts, including an underwater lounge, a four-story atrium, 14 balconies, a library, a medical center, and a multilevel owner’s deck, all packaged in a strikingly contemporary design. But the true paradigm shift is found in the magnitude and complexity of its new propulsion system. Double-walled cryogenic storage tanks, which maintain 4.4 tons of compressed liquid hydrogen at minus 423.4 degrees Fahrenheit, feed 16 fuel cells and electric motors to power all onboard hotel needs. Meanwhile, the exhaust-recovery system heats the vast interior down to the bathroom floors. The vessel is also able to travel at a speed of 10 knots in zero-emissions mode or remain silently operational—without a diesel generator—while at anchor for a week. Of the five-year build, Jan-Bart Verkuyl, CEO of Feadship’s Van Lent yard, says, “Our aim was a new, clean technology—not just for this project, but for the world.”
Azimut Seadeck 7 | 72 feet
Hybrid propulsion
The new Azimut Seadeck 7 showcases Volvo Penta’s latest hybrid system, pairing two IPS 1350 diesels with dual Danfoss 160 kW electric motors and battery banks. The combination of hull shape and hybridization is claimed to deliver a 40 percent reduction in carbon emissions, but, unlike other one-off hybrids, the real breakthrough is the full-system warranty. “IPS [inboard performance system] features such as joystick docking and GPS positioning can now be used in both electric and diesel modes,” says Johan Inden, president of Volvo Penta Marine.
The Seadeck 7 can cruise in electric mode at 11 knots or offer silent anchoring for up to 12 hours. Environmental consciousness was integral to more than just propulsion, as evidenced by the interior carpets made from recycled plastic and the exterior’s cork floors. But according to Giovanna Vitelli, chair of the Azimut-Benetti Group, the boat “is not only about sustainable materials but also a contemporary, minimalist design that will look good in 10 years.”
Vripack Project Zero
Zero-Combustion Engines
In 2019, Dutch design agency Vripack was handed a uniquely challenging brief. It entered into what became an international development team, tasked with designing a head-turning 69m sailing superyacht—with one major catch. It was to be the world’s first non-fossil-fueled superyacht: zero combustion engines, zero emissions, zero vibrations, zero tanks. There would be a final—and crucial—difference to every yacht built before it. Instead of sailing through choppy waters of NDAs, total secrecy and tight schedules, Project Zero would be a 100-percent open-source science project.
By sharing technological achievements and energy data, Project Zero promises to be not just a superyacht, but “an entirely new platform that can power future yachts,” says Vripack’s co-creative director Marnix Hoekstra. “It could bring forward the era of fossil-free cruising by 2 or 3 years because (by accessing the costly R&D gratis) now manufacturers have no excuses.”
The original brief asked for a high-performance ketch with two weeks of luxurious off-grid cruising. In terms of energy consumption, Project Zero had to reinvent the wheel. Power was harvested via solar, wind and—most pivotally—hydrogenation as submerged turbines span through the rushing waves. As battery tech evolved during the six-year project, new possibilities of weight, size and range opened up. As did the internal layout. “We don’t have an engine room anymore but a technical room,” explains Hoekstra. This isn’t an oily, noisy, vibrating inferno, but a smaller clean space that hums with the promise of futuristic cruising. Technically it could be placed anywhere on the yacht. On Project Zero it made sense to tuck this electro-Prometheus underneath the main salon.
Lürssen Project Cosmos
Gigayacht Powered by Fuel Cells
The first Lürssen yacht to use fuel-cell technology is Project Cosmos. Renders of this 374-foot-long explorer style gigayacht may not exist—the image above is the yacht being moved from a nearby shipyard for final fitout, and the inset is a rendering of what the fuel cell might look like. “But you can be assured,” states Lürssen, “The final yacht will look completely different than what you normally expect.” The vessel has been styled inside and out by Marc Newson, the industrial design genius behind the Apple Watch.
Project Cosmos isn’t entirely fossil fuel free. It is a prototype that also has traditional diesel engines. “We are building the first yacht with this technology,” explains Michael Breman, Lürssen’s sales director, “and when you do research, you also have to be prepared to fail.”
The one-megawatt cells still pack an almighty electrical punch. To explain simply: these polymer electrolyte membrane cells, or PEMs, use methanol to split molecules into protons and electrons, creating a constant stream of power. After the expected launch in late 2025, Project Cosmos should be able to stay at anchor for around two weeks, or cruise about 1,000 nautical miles, without using the generators. In other words, emissions-free yachting.
This proof of concept bodes well for future Lürssen launches. “For the same range you need more fuel,” says Breman, “but there is actually less space needed in an engine room.” This is because fuel cells require “no exhaust after treatment, no complex fuel preparation, no complex storage and no soundproof cabin.” That also means more freedom in designing the interior.