Article written by
SuperYacht Times
Published on September 4, 2024
Photos courtesy of SuperYacht Times
The superyacht industry is becoming increasingly conscious of its environmental impact, particularly regarding carbon emissions and this year’s Monaco Yacht Show will offer visitors the opportunity to interact with many of the companies that are pushing the sector toward a more sustainable future.
As awareness heightens, a discernible shift has emerged. More than ever, influential owners and stakeholders are actively pushing for a more sustainable future by prioritising investments in environmentally responsible practices.
Furthermore, advancements in sustainable yacht building are being shared on open platforms, enabling other stakeholders to learn from and expand upon these initiatives.
SuperYacht Times explores some of the projects currently ongoing that are pushing the industry to new heights, as well as sharing how visitors can engage with their builders and designers during the show this September.
These initiatives represent groundbreaking advancements in sustainable technology and design, setting new benchmarks for innovation in the superyacht sector.
Future Fuels
This year has seen an exciting development in the future of alternative energy, with two highly significant projects launched that will feature unique propulsion technologies. The first is the 49.99-metre Sanlorenzo superyacht Almax, which will be making her global debut at this year's Monaco Yacht Show. Launched in May, Almax features exterior design by Zuccon International Project and interiors by Lissoni & Partners, with naval architecture by Sanlorenzo.
Almax (2024) by SanLorenzo
Almax is a key component of Sanlorenzo's 'Road to 2030' initiative, which aims to introduce a carbon-neutral vessel by the end of the decade.
Developed in collaboration with exhibitor Siemens Energy, this system converts green methanol into hydrogen and then electricity. It is capable of powering the yacht's hotel functions, such as air conditioning and lighting and can recharge the batteries without needing to store hydrogen onboard. The carbon-neutral system can generate up to 100kW of electricity.
This allows the vessel to operate its propulsion engines and diesel generator inactively, thus significantly extending the duration it can spend at anchor without relying on diesel fuel.
The second major development has come from another Monaco Yacht Show exhibitor, the Dutch shipyard Feadship, which launched the 118.8-metre Feadship 821 earlier this year. Project 821 distinguishes itself as the first ever superyacht powered entirely by hydrogen, aligning with Feadship's commitment to developing "net zero" yachts by 2030.
To achieve this, the company has heavily invested in adapting the required technology to the spatial constraints of a superyacht.
The 118.8-metre flagship Feadship 821, launched in May 2024, features exterior and interior design by RWD and naval architecture by De Voogt Naval Architects.
Project 821 by Feadship
According to the Yacht Environmental Transparency Index (YETI), approximately 70-78% of a yacht’s annual energy consumption is attributed to its hotel load, with heating and air conditioning as the primary energy consumers. While Project 821 may not carry enough liquid hydrogen for transoceanic journeys, it can generate sufficient electricity for all hotel load needs.
When required, the fuel cells in Project 821 can also utilise methanol, a liquid fuel which can be stored under ambient conditions. This alternative biofuel can be converted into hydrogen through steam reforming before entering the electrochemical reaction in the fuel cell. Although she will not be at the yacht show herself, the team at Feadship will be exhibiting some of the superyacht’s many features throughout the show and are looking forward to sharing their insights with visitors.
Both Almax and Project 821 mark a major step forward in the use of both hydrogen and methanol and the entire industry is looking for ways to utilise these future fuels.
Solar Power
While future fuels and alternative energy are a major topic of discussion, there are a number of companies that have been building yachts with sustainable energy sources.
A key example of this is Sunreef Yachts with their advanced solar power technology, used throughout their lines but most particularly in their ECO series. This year, the Polish builder is exhibiting one of their newest hulls from the Eco series, the 24.5-metre 80 Sunreef Power Eco.
Sunreef 43m Eco
Sunreef’s Solar catamarans harvest power from the solar panels, fitted onto the tops and sides of the yacht, for a more eco-conscious and efficient cruising experience. In-house designed and manufactured by the shipyard, the solar panels are state-of-the-art. Sunreef Yachts was also one of the first companies to integrate solar panels in the curved carbon bimini roofs of its Eco yachts.
While solar panels are a major part of Sunreef’s sustainable development, the yard has also developed a series of electric catamarans and is currently constructing the first Sunreef Zero Cat. This emission-free sailing yacht will be equipped with a reformer which will convert methanol into clean hydrogen, the yacht is also set to generate no nitrogen or sulphur oxides.
Collaboration for a greener future
Each year visitors to the Yacht Design & Innovation Hub have the opportunity to listen to top experts discuss a range of topics about the future of sustainable yacht design.
In 2022 Water Revolution Foundation was joined on stage by key companies from yacht construction and design, to discuss the invaluable importance of collaboration across the industry. The goal of this discussion was to demonstrate how important it is for top companies to share their findings with smaller ones, to enable the entire industry to innovate faster and reach the 20% reduction in emissions by 2030.
Since that pivotal event, a number of projects have come to light with this open-source mentality, and a very important one is the 69-metre Vitters sailing yacht, Project Zero by Vripack and Dykstra Naval Architects. This superyacht, which is due for delivery next year, aims to be powered entirely without fossil fuels, a goal that necessitated a comprehensive reevaluation of the design approach using human-centred design techniques.
The yacht's domestic power is designed to be supplied by energy generated through sailing and solar input, with the efficiency of the hull and the design of hydro-generating thrusters playing crucial roles.
The project team tackled the energy challenge by dividing it into four key areas: harvesting, storing, saving, and managing energy.
This approach was supported by extensive data collection from various yachts to capture real-world operational profiles, providing insights into energy usage patterns, such as the frequency of showers by guests.
This data analysis led to the implementation of new solutions, such as installing sensors in lighting systems to reduce energy waste. Another significant innovation is the use of three centimetres of cork insulation beneath a Tesumo deck made of sustainable wood, which replaces conventional fillers and enhances thermal efficiency.
All research from Project Zero is being published on FoundationZero.org, an open-source technology platform, which aims to share findings with the superyacht industry, broader maritime sectors, and beyond.
The project's contributions to hydrogenation, routing, and sail-related technologies will be shared openly with the aim of accelerating innovation across the industry. Both Vitters Shipyard and Dykstra Naval Architects are exhibiting during this year’s show, as is the team at Water Revolution Foundation, so make sure to reach out to them to find out more.
These key projects underscore advancements in alternative fuels, data-driven energy-saving solutions, and ship design within the superyacht industry. As international and domestic legislation increasingly focuses on sustainability, significant innovations in this field are anticipated in the near future.
Project Zero by Vitters shipyard
