Hydrogen From A to Z: Y for Yachts

By: GenH2 Staff
Read Time: 3 minutes

Continuing in our defining the Hydrogen economy from A to Z series, we are visiting the letter Y and discussing hydrogen-powered yachts.

While non-commercial or personally owned yachts are usually seen as a rare luxury commodity, extra-large scale leisure vessels or yachts such as cruise ships are relatively commonplace and serve a crucial role in the tourism industry worldwide. Seeing as some superyachts and cruise ships contain all the modern amenities one could possibly want and then some, it would come as no surprise that these vessels require a significant amount of energy to properly function and having a greener energy alternative choice for the future is being considered and implemented, especially in the cruise industry.

Having yachts and cruise vessels transfer to hydrogen as a fuel source is a logical upgrade for the following reasons:

• Hydrogen can be acquired through the electrolyzation of water, meaning that these yachts are essentially sailing on top of their own fuel source if we are to assume that the proper desalinization filters and water purifiers are installed on each vessel.
• As with other vehicles or vessels, the incorporation of hydrogen provides a renewable eco-friendly alternative, allowing for maximized efficiency with minimal environmental impact.
• The choice of combining hydrogen yacht concepts with existing solar-powered yachts can usher in a new wave of eco-hybrid yachts which can run indefinitely on clean renewable energy sources and stored for later use.

Green hydrogen production options for yachts are already under consideration for development, which include the incorporation of transparent solar panels being integrated into the wooden decks of the ship. Green hydrogen and conversion is the fuel source that provide effective storage for the excess harvested energy and ultimately makes hydrogen a candidate for the yacht’s energy systems, as it can be accessed in situations where the additional energy harvesting methods prove to be insufficient, impractical, or unavailable.

Changing the fuel source of yachts from diesel to hydrogen is already being applied today, as the chase boat currently being developed for Emirates Team New Zealand to use in the America’s Cup will be fueled entirely by hydrogen. Introducing this boat could signal the beginning of a dramatic change within the luxury marine transport market as a whole Royal Caribbean Group’s ultra-luxury brand Silversea Cruises has also announced plans to launch a hybrid-powered fuel cell ship in the summer of 2023.

Seeing as the world is currently seeking out new and innovative energy solutions across all industries, companies like GenH2 offer liquid hydrogen infrastructure solutions to help meet those needs of the hydrogen supply and value chain, including the marine marketplace.

Please follow us next week for our next Defining the Hydrogen Economy from A to Z series blog.