A yacht with "infinite range"?!
A company from Switzerland is making this a reality and bringing an eco-yacht to the luxury market. Thanks to 64 square metres of solar panels, the boat produces its own hydrogen and can therefore theoretically travel infinitely without refuelling stops - and without emissions.
Increasingly, there is talk worldwide of making shipping more environmentally friendly as well. Since it is not only road vehicles on land that are responsible for air pollution and high levels of pollutants. Boats and ships should also switch to greener forms of propulsion and significantly reduce their negative impact on air and seawater. But this requires time and resources. With this in mind, it is no surprise that the first watercraft capable of powering itself - without polluting the surrounding water and air - comes from the luxury sector.
The new yacht AQUON One from Swiss Sustainable Yachts AG (SSY) is equipped with a photovoltaic system and a hydrogen generator. 64 square metres of solar panels are located on the roof and use the sun's energy to charge the lithium-ion batteries - as well as power the rest of the boat and passengers. When the battery is fully charged, the excess solar energy is used to produce gaseous hydrogen from desalinated seawater and then stored. If there is a need for additional energy, this can be converted back into electrical energy for propulsion by the fuel cells. In this way, the yacht can release no emissions other than water and heat - and in return also have an "infinite range". This is because no stops for refuelling are necessary, as the boat is completely self-sufficient in energy thanks to the combination of solar energy, hydrogen and fuel cells.
According to the Swiss manufacturers, the boat shows "how premium yachting can offer an independent lifestyle for sustainable luxury". Even the AQUON One yacht has its limits, however. The green power supply provides infinite range, but still components and those essential to the energy processes need maintenance and repair. If there is no sunlight, for example, the performance of the AQUON also changes. Only for a few days and at a lower speed - from 4 to 6 knots, compared to the 16 knots in normal operation - the boat can continue to sail in that case.
Can the technologies used here also be used in other contexts, such as on ferries and passenger or commercial vessels? The answer is theoretically yes, but the cost of such a power supply system remains high. And the bigger the ship, the higher the power demand. Moreover, the whole system needs to be tested much more reliably and far more safely before holidaymakers or goods can rely on it. Nevertheless, the new yacht remains an interesting industry innovation that could give the shipping industry the green impetus it needs - and bring water transport into the age of the transport revolution. In this way, the demanded environmental zones on the water are also becoming more and more realistic.