How do you store compressed liquid hydrogen on a superyacht at the equivalent of minus-423 degrees Fahrenheit?

This was the toughest question Dutch builder Feadship faced as it set out to create Project 821, the world’s first hydrogen-cell superyacht. “The aim has been to develop a new, clean technology not just for this project, but for the world,” says Jan-Bart Verkuyl, Feadship director and CEO at Royal Van Lent Shipyard.

Hydrogen fuel cells offer great promise for combustion-free cruising, with only electricity and water as their byproducts. But unlike with vehicles and spacecraft, the technology is new to recreational yachts. Weight isn’t the problem because hydrogen is light, but safely storing it on a vessel requires a double-walled cryogenic tank in a dedicated room. According to Feadship, it takes eight to 10 times more space to store hydrogen than the energy equivalent in diesel fuel.

Project 821’s size, at 390 feet long, made it a good candidate to test the technology. The tank on board holds about 4 tons of hydrogen, with the system able to provide a week’s worth of silent operation at anchor, or navigating at 10 knots while leaving harbors or cruising in protected marine zones.

All of that was achieved in addition to the kind of luxury that Feadship clients demand. The yacht’s design is by RWD, with owner representation by Edmiston. It has the most hull openings of any Feadship to date, with 14 balconies. Guest amenities include an elevator and a library.

“We have now shown that cryogenic storage of liquefied hydrogen in the interior of a superyacht is a viable solution,” Verkuyl says. “Future innovations on fuel cells and onboard reforming of methanol to hydrogen are on the near horizon.”

New Horizons

There were no regulations for hydrogen storage and fuel-cell systems on a superyacht, so Feadship, along with Edmiston and Lloyd’s Register, developed appropriately scaled equipment, protocols and safety regulations as part of the build.

Record-Setter

Project 821 is also the largest motoryacht ever launched in the Netherlands. It is about the same length as Feadship’s Launchpad, but with 30 percent more volume.

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Sunreef Yachts says its research-and-development department is working on a Zero Cat: a sustainable sailing yacht that can convert methanol to hydrogen, combining with electric propulsion to create zero emissions and what the builder promises will be “unlimited autonomy.”

The Zero Cat will “measure above 90 feet,” according to Sunreef. It will also have a solar-power system with solar cells built into the body of the yacht.

Sunreef says the fuel-cell and solar-cell systems will provide energy for propulsion as well as hotel loads.

“Our goal is to revolutionize the industry by offering discerning customers an exceptional zero-emission sailing experience,” Nicolas Lapp, chief technology officer and co-founder of Sunreef, stated in a press release. “This project represents a milestone in our ongoing commitment to protecting our oceans and preserving the natural beauty of the sea.”

What else is new at Sunreef? In the past year, the builder also unveiled the Ultima, a range of hybrid power catamarans. The first models are the 45 Ultima and 55 Ultima.

Where to learn more: visit sunreef-yachts.com

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Emirates Team New Zealand’s Chase Zero is the world’s first hydrogen-powered and hydrofoil-equipped catamaran. The team designed and built it as a prototype chase boat for the 37th America’s Cup. The high-performance foiler is held aloft by two connected hydrofoils that extend downward via struts from the hull at midship, and by a rudder and static elevator assembly. The boat’s autopilot handles flight control by articulating the flaps on the trailing edges of the hydrofoils and by trimming the rudder’s rake angle.

The team’s biggest challenge in building Chase Zero was time lost to pandemic-driven quarantines and supply-chain disruptions. It applied its 29-year history of innovation to those problems. “In our day job of competing for the America’s Cup, we have to be able to turn concepts into working engineering solutions extremely quickly,” says Dan Bernasconi, the team’s head of design. “We have developed tools and processes that allow for this rapid development, and we have a very solid engineering team.”

Under the Hood

Chase Zero’s cruising speed is 35 knots, but it can reportedly do 50-plus knots. Thrust is generated by twin 80 kW Toyota prototype fuel cells and twin electric motors (one per hull) that spin Mercury Bravo I propellers. Each fuel cell creates DC power that’s either consumed by the motors or banked in lithium- ion batteries. Chase Zero’s daily working range is 100 nautical miles, and it emits only water. While Emirates Team New Zealand isn’t a mass-production boatbuilder, its head of design says the team may supply the design to other America’s Cup teams or to a production builder.

Take the next step: emirates-team-new-zealand.americascup.com

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Aicon Yachts and Renewable Innovations have teamed up to bring hydrogen power options to boating. The goal is to eliminate the use of diesel generators at anchor and to reduce dockside electrical-grid requirements.

“Hydrogen-powered systems offer the greenest and cleanest solutions on the market and are ideal for a wide range of commercial and consumer applications,” Robert Mount, CEO and co-founder of Renewable Innovations, stated in a press release. “Our vision is to extend these solutions across every facet of life, including helping to make yachting cleaner and preserving the beauty of nature.”

The goal, according Aicon Yachts Chairman and CEO Marc-Udo Brioch, is 100-percent sustainable yachting. The builder is going to incorporate the hydrogen systems in two steps: first, to power HVAC, at-anchor power, galley appliances, lights, audiovisual systems, electronics and security systems; and second, to power a yacht’s movement by coupling hydrogen power with the ocean’s salinity.

“Yachting is all about enjoying nature at its finest and bringing the Aicon family closer to the world’s oceans, with all their majestic powers,” he said in the press release. “All this has to be achieved with the goal of experiencing them while leaving them untouched.”

How do hydrogen fuel cell systems work? They have no moving parts. Instead, they use an electrochemical reaction to create energy. They generate no carbon emissions, minimal noise and no vibrations.

Take the next step: go to aiconyachts.com or renewable-innovations.com

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Torqeedo, which specializes in propulsion systems for electric boats, is collaborating with Proton Motor Fuel Cell to integrate hydrogen fuel cell charging into Torqeedo systems.

The two Bavaria-based companies plan to work on a marine hydrogen hybrid building kit that will integrate Torqeedo’s existing Deep Blue battery-electric drive systems and Proton Motor’s fuel cell technology.

“The hydrogen-electric Deep Blue Hybrid system will provide a practical and cost-effective solution that will allow for fast fueling, overcome speed and range limitations, and will meet the most restrictive emission requirements on environmentally sensitive waterways or in urban areas,” Jochen Czabke, senior vice president product development and global service for Torqeedo, stated in a press release.

The project’s working title is Ma-Hy-Hy (marine-hydrogen-hybrid). It has received funding from the Bavarian government through 2024.

The system will be designed to provide propulsion power ranges from 50 to 200 kW and fuel cell power of 30 to 120 kW. It will have flexible options for hydrogen storage.

A prototype system will be tested at Torqeedo’s engineering center near Munich, Germany.

What’s the overall project goal? To develop a zero-emission hybrid-electric propulsion system that will enhance the range and performance of battery-powered drives, without using any fossil fuels.

Where to learn more: go to torqeedo.com

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