The 350-foot Black Pearl can sail across the Atlantic without burning any fossil fuel.
In a world increasingly concerned with reducing its carbon footprint and saving natural resources, green yachting continues to be a growing trend. For many years, builders have tinkered with yachts to make them run on alternatives to diesel, and some of this research is yielding promising results; and as demand increases, we’ll see more breakthrough innovations in sustainable yachting. YACHTS POWERED BY ALTERNATIVE POWER SOURCES Several boatbuilders, such as Greenline Yachts, are already offering hybrid yachts, while others are making advancements in solar technologies. In 2019, the Serenity 74 launched with about 1,200 square feet of solar panels to support the yacht’s power functions while cruising. Serenity achieved this by building the rest of the yacht around its solar array instead of making it an afterthought.
Apart from solar technology, we also see yacht builders like Alva turn to electric propulsion systems as the sole source of power. Oceanco has also explored hybrids; their 350-foot DynaRig yacht, Black Pearl, can sail across the Atlantic without burning any fossil fuel. Alternative energy company, Energy Observer Developments, is also developing hydrogen fueling stations that float in the corner of a marina and generate hydrogen from seawater. We’re also seeing innovations in power management, storage, and monitoring, with new battery banks and intelligent monitoring systems expected from builders in 2022 and beyond.
09
T H E F U T U R E I S S M O O T H , G R E E N , A N D L I G H T W E I G H T
N E W & N O T E WO R T H Y
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter