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This 64-foot hydrogen electric yacht uses solar and sea water to power itself with ‘unlimited range’

European yacht broker MYSEA has announced the beginning of sales of the AQUON One eco-catamaran – a solar electric yacht powered by the sun and hydrogen fuel cells with luxurious accommodations for eight to ten passengers without any emissions.

AQUON is a sustainability-focused yacht builder founded within Swiss Sustainable Yachts AG, based in Zurich. The company states it combines Swiss-quality engineering, Spanish naval architecture expertise, and Italian design to deliver a new breed of yachts that are connected, future-oriented, and most importantly – sustainable at sea.

The young company’s ethos begins with its first zero-emissions yacht, the solar hydrogen AQUON One. It is described by its design team on the AQUON website as follows:

A smart designer catamaran that redefines premium yachting. It offers an independent lifestyle for sustainable luxury, powered by green hydrogen and solar energy. The name AQUON symbolizes this state-of-the-art technology and references this powerful clean water luxury.

We’ve covered solar electric catamarans before, but the team at AQUON has developed a unique system aboard the vessel that can go days at sea without replenishing and may just be able to offer unlimited range without any dependency on fuel.

Solar electric hydrogen yachts could be the future at sea

With the first sales of the AQUON One, its makers look to set a new standard for eco-friendly luxury maritime vessels, and they may just do it. Unlike many of the yachts we’ve covered in the past that utilize solar panels to help power electric motors, AQUON has also added hydrogen fuel cells for additional clean power and long-term energy storage.

The yacht features 64 square-meters of photovoltaic solar panels on its roof that help charge lithium-ion batteries aboard that offer short-term electricity storage used for propulsion and onboard energy usage. Excess solar energy is then used to convert desalinated sea water into hydrogen gas. The gas is then compressed to 300 bar and stored in carbon tanks aboard.

Top comment by A Willard

This is a big boat, 19.4 meters (64ft) in length.

Having sailed cats for a number of years (but never a motor cat) I worry about the added system complexity of hydrogen generation and fuel cells. I know the issues I have faced with water makers and seaweed, I expect this system is going to need some extra special filtering.

Fuel cells convert the hydrogen back to electricity whenever energy is needed to propel two electric motors and provide additional energy to passengers aboard. The only emissions are pure water and thermal heat, which are used to provide hot water onboard and heat the cabins.

The result is a truly zero-emissions hydrogen electric yacht that can use its own terrain to create more fuel for itself, thus offering the prospect of unlimited range (while cruising at 4-6 knots with sufficient sunlight). Without replenishing, the AQUON One can still travel at sea for up to three days at a time.When the yacht is not trying to conserve as much energy at sea, it can reach a cruising speed of 8 knots (9.2 mph) and a top speed of 16 knots (18.4 mph).

So what does a sustainable yacht of this magnitude cost? MYSEA tells use the AQUON One is currently being sold for a price of 7,400,000 euros (excluding VAT). That translates to about $8.1 million. Good thing those customers will be saving by not using diesel, they may need that extra money!

You can take a virtual tour of the AQUON One on the company website and also learn more. Here’s a video detailing the upcoming solar electric hydrogen yacht as well.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Scooter Doll is a writer, designer and tech enthusiast born in Chicago and based on the West Coast. When he’s not offering the latest tech how tos or insights, he’s probably watching Chicago sports. Please send any tips or suggestions, or dog photos to him at [email protected]

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New solar – hydrogen yacht runs on sunshine and water

The Aquon One is a luxury solar – hydrogen yacht completely powered by rooftop panels that generate electricity to run its twin 100kW motors and also create hydrogen for fuel cells from the water the boat sails through.

The system is similar to that of the zero emission Energy Observer research vessel which is sailing around the world on solar, wind and hydrogen power and is currently in French Guiana on its way from France to Japan.  The difference being that the Aquon is not a research ship, but the world’s first leisure catamaran powered by green (no fossil fuels involved) hydrogen.

His experience and leadership in that area helped him gather a network of global experts in a wide variety of technologies, who he put together as a ‘superteam’ of advisors to design and create this revolutionary boat. It includes specialists not only in yacht and interior design but also thermo and fluid dynamics, photovoltaics, hydrogen, fibre composites, smart home technology and  an ‘energy architect’ that helped coordinate the various disciplines.

Solar – hydrogen yacht truly zero emission

The mission of the team is ‘to pioneer sustainable yachting and true independence’ and the goal for the Aquon One was to create a yacht that succeeds in both aspects – from energy generation to construction materials, even to the recycling of waste water.

The 68 foot (19.5m) catamaran has a displacement of 30 metric tons and is powered by 2 x 100 kilowatt electric motors, one on each catamaran pontoon. Everything, including the living quarters, is ultimately powered by the 64 square meters (690 sq.ft) of solar panels on the roof. The electricity can be put to  immediate use, stored in a battery in the short term or in tanks of compressed hydrogen for the long term.

Starting at the top of the circle in this illustration, here is a quick outline of how it all works. (The video at the bottom of this article shows the energy flow in more detail and gives examples of typical use cases).

Top SOLAR ENERGY GENERATION The rooftop monocrystalline photovoltaic panels convert sunlight to electricity, with an output of more than 75 kWh/day in summertime.

⬇︎ Down the Left side of the illustration: HYDROGEN Some of this electricity can be used in electrolysis to separate desalinated sea water into oxygen (O) and hydrogen (H 2 ) gas. The H 2 is compressed to 300 bar (4,500 psi) and…

LONG-TERM H 2 STORAGE …stored in onboard tanks.

ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION Hydrogen fuel cells ‘recombine’ the hydrogen with atmospheric oxygen to create electricity to drive the engines, with water (H 2 O) as the only emission.  There is also some heat generated, which is captured and used to cover onboard hot water supply and heating.

Down the Right side of the illustration ⬇︎ :

SHORT-TERM BATTERY STORAGE The electricity from the solar panels is also used to charge lithium-Ion batteries that provide short-term electricity storage for propulsion and on-board use.

PROPULSION The electric engines (one per hull) can be powered by the short term battery or by the long term storage on the hydrogen (left) side of this diagram.

This solar – hydrogen combination means the Aquon can be truly independent from other energy sources. Full speed is 16 knots, and with sufficient sunlight and a cruising speed of 8 knots the range is limitless.

Why hydrogen and a battery instead of just a battery?  The main advantage of hydrogen is that it has a much higher energy density – it packs more energy per unit of weight, and less weight is always good on a boat. Also, hydrogen can store energy over longer periods of time, even across seasons. 

Sustainability of materials

Another consideration of the SSY team was the application of a holistic and circular philosophy to all elements of construction and materials. Organic materials have been used wherever possible and others have been evaluated for their renewability and recyclability with a database that tracks where everything is sourced and best practices for minimal end-of-life impact.

The main floor is covered by genuine leather recycled from the waste trimmings of shoe manufacturers, while natural Portuguese cork is used in wet areas like the kitchen and bathroom. The cork comes from the bark of cork trees that are peeled instead of cut down, which means the bark can regenerate within 9 years – absorbing CO2 all of that time.

A luxury smart home at sea

The Aquon is made for luxury living and has been described by its designers as “a loft at sea’ and ‘a smart home at sea’. Internet of Things (IoT) and digital systems expert Armin Leonhardt of aleon   was an integral part of the creative team that included Christian Grande of CGDW and Martin Hesselmann on the design and interior architecture front along with Tià Simó of BYD Group naval architects.

The main deck features large dining and living rooms, a fully-equipped kitchen, and two outdoor terraces. The catamaran pontoons house bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms and up to four guest cabins. The flybridge is a private roof terrace with bar, grill, outdoor cooking station and dining area for twelve.

All in all it is a remarkable feat of engineering and design, and the project and research was assisted along the way by a variety of partners including Swiss Cleantech , the Swiss Hydrogen Association (Hydropole) , Gstaad Yacht Club , Swiss OST University of Applied Sciences , ZSW Center for solar energy and hydrogen research Baden-Württemberg , maritime safety certification service DNV-GL , and CSEM , a private Swiss non-profit research and technology organization.

Click here to visit the Aquon site for full specifications and details

• ← ePropulsion adds hydrogeneration, 48V batteries to all models
• Montreal waterways to get 15 Vision Marine electric boats →

2 thoughts on “ New solar – hydrogen yacht runs on sunshine and water ”

This is a pretty misleading information. As if conversion of electricity from solar into hydrogen and back would be meaningful. The energy losses for doing this are so substantial that this does not make a lot of sense, even though a solar powered yacht in general can be a good thing – depending on the use profile.

Thanks for writing, Sebastian. This is an overview of the Aquon One and all of the information in this article is available on the Aquon website. You may be able to find out more specifics there of how the system works and its applicability for marine use.

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“World first” solar-fuelled hydrogen catamaran sails into clean future

• May 17, 2021
• No comments
• 3 minute read
• Bridie Schmidt

It has been one year since the Energy Observer – thought to be the world’s first hydrogen-powered catamaran – commenced its journey from Saint Malo in northern Brittany to criss-cross the planet’s oceans to prove that the decarbonisation of the maritime sector is possible, with solar, wind, tidal power and hydrogen.

The solar panel-adorned catamaran has now moored at the “mecca” of electric transport and home of Tesla, San Francisco, its second US stopover after a week-long stop at Long Beach near San Diego in April.

The brain-child of sailor Victorien Erussard, an officer in the merchant navy and a competitor in renowned nautical races, the Energy Observer’s aim is to reduce carbon emissions from maritime transport by promoting the use of renewable energies.

For this purpose, Erussard transformed an old racing boat built under the supervision of skipper Mike Birch, which won the round-the-world Jules-Verne Trophy in 1994, into a “virtuous” boat.

Choosing California as a destination was not by chance: California is the only US state to have a network of more than 40 hydrogen charging stations, mainly between San Diego and San Francisco, and even as far as Lake Tahoe, with the goal of reaching 200 stations by 2022.

“It is particularly important for us to come here, in order to meet the actors of the changes that we are advocating: California has a proactive policy of using renewable energies, there is also a hydrogen highway, with numerous stations along the coast ”, Lorène Blottière, in charge of communications for the boat, was quoted as saying by French Morning (translated from French).

But the boat can also generate its own hydrogen. Covered liberally in more than 200 square metres of solar panels, some of which are double-sided to catch radiation from light reflecting off the sea’s surface, the Energy Observer is fitted with a reverse osmosis system developed by Japanese carmaker Toyota.

While hydrogen may not be the simplest solution for passenger vehicles, for applications such as aviation and maritime it has the advantage of lightness. In the case of the Energy Observer, the fuel cell system reduces the overall weight of the boat by 14 tonnes, and therefore its energy consumption.

Most of the time, the solar panels are used to power everything on board the boat but when the boat is moored, excess energy is used to create hydrogen.

The boat takes in seawater which it purifies and then electrolyses, separating the water’s elements into pure oxygen and hydrogen.

The hydrogen is then stored in eight fuel cell tanks which can store enough hydrogen for six days.

The Energy Observer can also take advantage of ocean breezes to activate its “ocean wings” – the vertical propulsion wings located on the sides of the boat – which act as sails but can also generate energy.

“In general, we use 40% solar, 40% wind and only 20% hydrogen,” Marin Jarry, second in command of the boat, was quoted as saying by French Morning.

Clean credentials of the boat notwithstanding, the planned four-year journey which commenced in March 2020 has not been without its challenges.

Just as the boat’s team was preparing to set sail, the Coronavirus started taking its toll across the globe. The pandemic altered the boat’s navigation plans but there was no question of abandoning the Energy Observer mission along the way: “We left a few days before the start of containment. As we could no longer stop in the ports that were to serve as our stopovers, our transatlantic crossing turned into a 47-day odyssey at sea, and all this under sail,” Jarry said (translated from French).

The next stop for the Energy Observer will be Hawaii, before heading to Japan for the Olympic Games. The boat will complete its round-the-world trip in three years, after having visited some fifty countries and hopes to accelerate the energy transition in transport.

Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven , sister site of Renew Economy . She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au .

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The World's First Hydrogen-Powered Superyacht Has a $644 Million Price Tag

By Nick Mafi

Superyachts seemed to be among the last modes of (luxe) transportation to bend toward the growing consumer demand for eco-friendly engine designs. But if news from last week’s Monaco Yacht Show served as a bellwether, the industry meant to cater to the wealthiest among us made a progressive splash with the unveiling of Aqua, the world's first hydrogen-powered superyacht.

Designed by the Dutch firm Sinot Yacht & Architecture Design, Aqua is a nearly 400-foot-long vessel that's run entirely by a renewable energy source. "Water is the eternal fuel of life, the life-sustaining force that makes planet Earth habitable," says Sander Sinot, founder of the firm that bears his name. "Water is soft, yet at the same time it cuts through hard rocks." It was this appreciation of water that helped the firm find balance between the natural world and the technological. The propulsion system is made up of two 28-ton vacuumed tanks that each contain liquified hydrogen which are stored at -423 degrees Fahrenheit. Along with being eco-friendly, hydrogen-based energy means for a quieter experience aboard the ship in comparison to traditional engines. That said, there will be backup diesel generators handy should the captain ever need them.

The infinity pool aboard AQUA. 

There was much confusion on Monday if there was already a buyer who had paid the hefty $644 million price tag. Reports spread throughout the internet that billionaire Bill Gates had purchased the superyacht, rumors that proved to be false. Yet readers couldn't be blamed for believing such reports, as images show Aqua to include its own infinity pool, helipad, spa, and gym—amenities meant to attract billionaires such as Gates.

An aerial view of the superyacht shows how close passengers can get to the water, as well as the cascading design of the infinity pool.

Sinot and his team designed the vessel to safely bring passengers as close to the water as possible. "Water is relaxation; it makes us calmer and more creative," Sinot comments. "We wanted to provide those on board with the closest possible proximity to the water. The aft deck features an innovative series of platforms cascading down towards the sea, while a large swim platform allows all passengers to enjoy the optimal experience of accessing the water at sea level."

One of the bedrooms inside of Aqua shows a minimalist aesthetic. 

Aqua can reach speeds of up to 19.5 mph and features enough room for 14 guests and 31 crew members. The firm plans to complete the vessel by 2024.

By Charlotte Collins

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Sunrise brief: Solar-hydrogen racing yacht to circumnavigate the globe 

Also on the rise: Shoals files patent complaint for solar connectors and wire harnesses. Construction complete on largest solar plant in Texas. And more.

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Intersect Power's Radian Solar project located in Brown County, TX, generates 415 MWp/320 MWac of solar energy, enough to power more than 114,000 homes.

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Solar-hydrogen racing yacht to circumnavigate the globe  A partnership between Maxeon Solar Technologies and OceansLab will result in the production of the world’s first hydrogenelectric race yacht.

Shoals files patent complaint for solar connectors and wire harnesses The company filed a patent infringement complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission against Hikam America and Voltage, LLC.

Hydrogen Power: Collaborator, not competitor  While hydrogen is poised for growth, it is not poised to knock off—or even compete with—solar and wind. Instead, if done correctly, hydrogen might help drive further adoption of wind and solar.

Solar microgrids, tractors among semifinalists in sustainable electricity for Africa contest The Milken Institute and the Motsepe Foundation announced 20 semifinalist recipients for a prize in green energy, with $20,000 in initial awards and the potential for five teams to compete for a $1 million grand prize.

Intersect’s Radian Solar among largest Texas projects at 415 MW The utility solar project in central Texas uses First Solar U.S.-made panels and is one of the top 10 largest solar projects in the country, and largest in Texas, according to EIA data.

U.S. clean hydrogen roadmap released In addition to releasing the roadmap, the Biden Administration has earmarked billions of dollars of funding for investing in the advancement of clean hydrogen, which has many uses and can play a vital role in reducing emissions from some of the most energy-intensive sectors of our economy.

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Hydrogen power: Is the future of onboard power here?

• July 20, 2021

It has long been discussed but hydrogen power for yachts is starting to look set to become a green power source for yachts. Sam Fortescue investigates

We all know that hydrogen is the power of the future. After all, scientists have been discussing it for decades. Between zero emissions, zero noise and no vibration, it is surely the fuel that yacht owners have been waiting for. Why, then, is it taking so long to arrive, and when will we see hydrogen-powered boats?

The answer to the last question is simple: they already exist. There is a commercial barge plying the River Seine through Paris running solely on hydrogen, for instance.

At rush hour you can cross the harbour from Antwerp to Kruibeke in Belgium on Hydroville , the world’s first H2-powered passenger shuttle. And the well-publicised Energy Observer project successfully sent a solar-powered hydrogen yacht around the planet without using a drop of fossil fuel.

Hydrogen power is stimulating the feverish imaginations of yacht designers searching for the next step forward in futuristic luxury.

Energy Observer in the Svalbard Archipelago, August 2019. Photo: Energy Observer Productions

In 2019 there was the lavish 112m motor yacht Aqua drawn by Dutch design powerhouse Sinot. It had features galore, including a swimming pool that gushed in steps down the long teak transom of the boat, a glass bow observation lounge and shell-like helical staircase running from the top to the lower deck. And at its core were two 28-tonne hydrogen vacuum tanks capable of storing the gas in liquid form at -253°C.

With 4.4MW hydrogen fuel cells on board, this was enough to power the yacht to 17 knots and give her a 3,750-mile range.

Then last year, news of the Nemesis One was released, a jet-black ‘stealth fighter’ of a catamaran engineered by multihull experts VPLP in pure carbon to foil at over 50 knots.

The boat employs America’s Cup technology on a scale never seen before. Its towering 80m-plus soft autonomous AYRO Oceanwings wingsail is capable of generating huge power and twin L-shaped foils are controlled by an automatic flight system.

The 750m2 of solar panels and the hydrogen-electric powertrain appear almost as a footnote to a project that focuses more on the technology of speed and on luxury.

Article continues below…

Both of these remain no more than concepts, though, if spectacular ones. Sinot says that potential clients are still showing interest in Aqua , and that hydrogen power continues to be a priority for them.

Feadship reports that its clients are increasingly asking after alternative fuels and OceanCo is already working on yachts which operate in a ‘leave no trace’ manner. But across the yachting sector as a whole, the undoubted interest in hydrogen has yet to translate into any meaty projects.

Hydrogen power – no technical leaps needed

“The technology is there, and environmentally speaking it’s the best option we can think of,” says Thibault Tallieu of French hydrogen pioneer EO Dev, which spun out of the Energy Observer project.

“The challenges aren’t technical, not even so much the cost,” but, says Tallieu, it’s the combination of those factors combined with the lack of refuelling solutions. “To have that infrastructure in place so owners know they can go from Monaco to St Tropez; Capri to the Balearics.”

The UK’s Fuel Cell Systems is working on a French project for a mobile refuelling station capable of supplying up to 40kg of pure hydrogen – equivalent to about 250 litres of diesel.

At some point expect to see petrol pump-style hydrogen filling stations cropping up. Photo: Atawey

At first it will be in place in Marseille, supporting the launch of an innovative 40ft hydrogen tender from Hynova this June. Then it will follow the boat up the coast in hops to include Toulon, La Ciotat, St Tropez, Cannes, Nice and Monaco as part of Hynova’s Sea Show.

“We aim to move the boundaries,” says Hynova’s Laetitia Vichy. “Without hydrogen in the ports, we can’t grow the number of boats.” She hopes that the mobile stations will stimulate demand and give way to fixed hydrogen fuel pumps with a capacity of 100-200kg.

The transformation can happen very quickly – a matter of months. “It’s a question of investment,” says Cyril Dufau-Sansot of Hy2gen. “Two to three million Euros is the cost of a fixed station, whereas the mobile solution is around €100,000. The cost will drop with scale and manufacturing of mobile modules – within the next 3-4 years, you can halve the price.”

In this model, hydrogen is produced at a large-scale central electrolysis plant capable of turning out 12 tonnes of gas a day, and requiring an eye-watering 30MW of green power. Special trucks carrying a stack of long cylinders then deliver the gas to stations under huge pressure. Other developers want to build small filling stations that make their own hydrogen from mains power and water.

But there is another way of doing it, according to EO Dev. The company is testing a futuristic-looking design for a floating hydrogen fuel station. It would be tethered in ports and harbours and connected to shore power to produce hydrogen from seawater 24 hours a day. Using first desalination then electrolysis, up to 250kg of pure hydrogen could be produced and dispensed every day. “We’ll have a technically functional prototype by the end of 2021, but regulations will take at least another year,” says Tallieu.

Black Pearl already runs a hybrid hydrogen-electric system

A question of space

Getting the hydrogen to the boat is one part of the conundrum, but storing it on board is just as tricky.

As a diffuse gas, Hydrogen must be compressed to 350 bar or even super-chilled to a liquid in heavy tanks aboard. Between the cylinders, pumps and handling systems, hydrogen propulsion requires more space than diesel, even though the fuel cell itself is smaller than the engine.

I asked superyacht builder Royal Huisman, no stranger to ground-breaking technology, what that meant in design terms. “We took an existing yacht and used a 3D model of the vessel, energy use of that vessel, and also the installed power, and replaced everything that was needed to run the vessel on hydrogen – just as an experiment,” says proposals manager Henriko Kalter.

“At that moment your technical volume doubles. There you have to make a choice. If you want to build the same vessel with the same range, you will lose a lot of space on board,” he concedes.

EO Dev’s pilot floating fuel station to replenish onboard storage tanks.

“But that’s part of our smart energy approach, where you also have to lower your energy consumption.” It is an approach the builder adopted successfully with Ethereal and in the refit of Juliet as diesel-electric hybrids, with a large battery bank and smart peak-shaving power management.

But hydrogen presents another challenge. Being one of the smallest molecules found in nature and highly flammable to boot, H2 gas needs very careful treatment. This is one reason that hydrogen tanks can’t simply be built into the bilges, like diesel tanks. They must be ‘outside the hull’ where they can vent safely, according to classification societies such as Lloyds.

“In our research, we made the hull look as if it was continuous from the outside (comparable to a hull door), but the actual vessel stops 4m before the aft end. The last bit is just a rack of big 700-bar hydrogen cylinders,” says Royal Huisman’s Kalter.

Some designers see an opportunity here, because it is much more flexible than the current diesel drivetrains. “The modular nature of an all-electric yacht could also allow unusual layouts which could open exciting design and lifestyle opportunities,” says Lateral’s Simon Brealey, whose team designed the engineering for Aqua. “We can totally re-imagine where the technical spaces on a yacht should go and what they look like.”

A self-refuelling yacht?

The dream is to design a boat capable of making its own hydrogen as it goes, so that it never needs refuelling. The principle was proven by Energy Observer , and Swiss company Aquon has just launched a similar concept for a very swish 64ft power catamaran.

Daedalus’s custom tanks

Aquon One can generate up to 13kW of electricity using 70m2 of solar panels. “Many times, the solar panels produce more energy than needed at that specific moment – for instance when Aquon One is at anchor,” explains CEO Christine Funck. “This excess energy is transformed and stored in the form of green hydrogen.”

In optimum conditions, the yacht is capable of operating indefinitely at 3-6 knots, Funck says. And she sees no reason why it shouldn’t work for a sailing version, although shading from sails, rigging and spars naturally reduce the output of the solar panels.

“It would work well on a sailing-catamaran of a certain size, and we have had discussions with clients regarding this topic.”

Daedalus Yachts has got furthest with a design for an 88ft catamaran that makes its own hydrogen using a 10kW solar array, wind turbines and hydrogeneration. The D88 will store the gas in custom-made carbon tanks, which founder Michael Reardon claims to be the only ones certified by DNV. This allows the yacht to fit its tanks in special containment boxes in the bilge of each hull.

This, despite the fact predicted sailing speeds are an eye-watering 36 knots in 24 knots of wind.

Lamination has commenced for a predicted launch next year. “Everybody else is just talking about hydrogen – we’ve actually done the engineering,” says Reardon. “It can work on a monohull too, but the optimum size is 120ft plus.” A simpler system which takes on hydrogen from a shorebased pump rather than making it from seawater will bring hydrogen propulsion to boats as little as 32ft, Reardon thinks. “In the very near future, there’ll be hundreds of hydrogen 32-footers.”

Other types of hydrogen power

Another approach making way in the commercial sector is the use of alternative fuels such as ammonia and methanol. Both are hydrogen-rich, and easier to store than pure hydrogen. Alex Corrigan of ship builder CMB says: “Given a year or two, I think all that press you see now for hydrogen will be moving to ammonia.”

It is not without problems, though, because burning ammonia produces toxic nitrous oxide which has to be removed by exhaust treatment. Methanol is not much better, as it generates CO2 when it reacts in a fuel cell.

Nevertheless, Mathias May of Alva Yachts sees some potential up to about 15kW in his 25m monohull. “We have developed a fuel cell solution using either hydrogen or methanol for our Ocean Sail 72 and Ocean Sail 82,” he says. “In this case we substitute the diesel genset for a fuel cell, but the whole boat is still a serial hybrid.”

Nemesis One’s hydrogen-electric powertrain supplements the boat’s wind and solar power capabilities

“Over a long distance, you can’t store all the power you need even with a diesel motor,” he points out. However, he admits it is a tough sell to customers, and still recommends a ‘get you home’ diesel generator too.

Lürssen recently announced the sale of its first hydrogen-powered superyacht, due for delivery in 2025, which will use fuel cell technology that converts methanol into hydrogen. The German shipyard says this will allow it to travel 1,000 miles emission-free. Fellow superyacht builder OceanCo meanwhile wants to focus on what it does know. “We can say for certain that future-proofing requires electrification,” says group marketing director Paris Baloumis.

“Also, more intelligent use of technical space is going to be needed, because all alternative fuels are less energy dense than current fossil fuels. The main way to reduce its volume will be to reduce how much of it is needed. Which means we need to keep pushing forward with energy reduction.”

But with so much effort being poured into R&D, it is a question of ‘when’ and not ‘if’ a major hydrogen yacht project gets off the drawing board. “I would hope to see a hydrogen yacht being built at Royal Huisman in the next five to 10 years,” says Henriko Kalter.

“We need some brave owners who are willing to make that step. But as soon as momentum picks up, sailing yachts should be among the first to happen.”

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Hydrogen yacht – An alternative propulsion of the future?

• updated: 10. January 2022

Hydrogen fuel seems to be one outstanding propulsion system and it pretty much has not reached the market so far. But you can find some yachts in our electric yacht comparison , that use hydrogen propulsion. For example the Aquon One.

The cell is powered by hydrogen and formed from methanol. The decision at Lürssen was made in favor of methanol and against elemental hydrogen due to its higher availability everywhere in the world, ease of handling and higher energy density, whereas hydrogen lost the battle in ease of handling and it is obviously not worth arguing about the other two points. Another pro is that if green methanol is used, emissions and waste materials such as nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, soot and CO² can be avoided. Fuel cells as a whole produce almost no acoustic noise or vibration. They rarely require maintenance, are much more efficient than the usual diesel power and can be refueled very quickly. Especially in comparison to charging electric super yachts.

Low capability of fuel cells

But on the contrary the capability of a fuel cell is only low so it has to be combined by other energy storages or converters. Plus we have to wait until 2025 then we can finally see the outcome for Lürssens client. But it was said that he seems to be into technology and technical developments but also does not want to underrate practical values and everyday usage. Range, autonomy and sustainability are obviously the values in this major project. Peter Lürssen really enjoys that their customers who already invest a great amount of  financial resources in their yachts tend to have a sustainable mindset and rely on furthering propulsion and power technologies on their vessels. He’s deeply convinced that this will be a game changer and basically has a lot of practical use.

Superyacht produces hydrogen itself

Instead of refueling some hydrogen propulsion yachts are capable of producing hydrogen themselves.[1] Shore power and solar panels can provide the electricity needed for the process.[1] You may be thinking of the not so beautiful normal solar panels, but this concept superyacht has invisible solar panels integrated into the wooden deck.[1] That not only makes it way more beautiful, but also more efficient, because you don’t need separate space for the solar panels. Combined with a kite, you can cover endless distances at a decent pace as long as there is enough wind or sun.

The practical use of hydrogen propulsion in yachts

The Correllian 110 is another example of the game changing practical use of hydrogen propulsion in yachts. Alexandre Thiriat designed this one with all sustainability in mind. He’s a father of two and being in the yacht industry has always made him worry about the economy and future. So he followed technological innovations and developments to strike when there was something useful for his designs as now with hydrogen fuel cells combinated by solar energy systems.

Correllian 110 - Sustainability and luxury are not incompatible

A hull made out of 100% aluminum gives a low drag and furthermore energy efficiency. There are solar panels for full autonomy cruising the vessel. Equiped with twin 500 kW electric motors, the vessel can accelerate to an estimated top speed of 18 knots. In theory there is no limit in range and there are also no disrupting noises, emissions or vibrations. You can peacefully make the most out of your private trip without compromises to any water place in the world. Besides sustainability the Correlian 110 is also made for easy handling and super comfortable navigating even through shallow drafts or far away anchor points. There are no limits set with hydrogen propulsion in combination with solar power and you can bring friends and family because with an onboard of 186m² and the same amount on the outside, 8 to12 people easily can sleep over, dine or enjoy each other’s company with a range of luxury amenities, including a jacuzzi, pool, sun pads and a beach club or customize whatever you may want to add. Freedom will find you. Sustainability and luxury are not incompatible.

Aqua - more than just a source of energy

The impressive Aqua by Sinot Yacht & Architecture Design is 112m long and comes not only with a price tag of 529 million euros, but also with many rumors about who might have spent it. The rumors that Bill Gates might be the one who bought the hydrogen superyacht have turned out to be false. So for now, it remains a secret who the owner of the Aqua will be, which is expected to be completed in 2024. The name Aqua is based on the hydrogen as the propulsion system and furthermore Sander Sinot has been strongly inspired by this element in the design of the yacht. He is convinced that water creates more relaxation, serenity and creativity. The hull, which is optimally adapted to the waves, makes the ship not only visually one with the water, but also glides through it. 

Limitless luxury

Water is also gliding through the deck, at least the huge infinity pool on deck tricks us in thinking that. Around the pool is a large lounge area to be able to fully enjoy the atmosphere. The interior design of the luxurious spa and wellness center on board is even more based on water shapes. This wellness center leads us like the tide through moonshaped portals to a gym and a massage room. The massage room offers a waterbased massage by hydro jets. In the Owners Pavillon and inside the cabins, you find all the luxury that would be expected in a superyacht like this. In the cabins the vessel can host up to 14 guests and 31 crew members. The maximum speed is 17kn and cruising speed is 10-12kn. With a range of 6945km you will probably never need the backup diesel generators.

HYNOVA's 40ft hydrogen yacht tender

The french company HYNOVA from La Ciotat and their first hydrogen powered boat, the HYNOVA 40 can’t be missing here. First publicized and competed at the online held Monaco Energy Boat Challenge 2020. CEO Chloé Zaied’s team won the jury’s Coup de Coeur Price. The HYNOVA 40 is two times 150 kW strong in the base version of the Haute Couture line, powered by a 80 kW Toyota fuel cell and two batteries paired with a REXH2 range extender.  They will fasten you up to a maximum speed of 25 knots or you can simply cruise at 15 knots. Around 22 kilos of Hydrogen can be stored and transported on board as well as 12 passengers on the 12.6 metres long yacht. You can also upgrade to three batteries and a maximum speed of 30 knots by choosing the strong version of the Haute Couture line. Find out if this is the right tender for you in our electric boat comparison .

Vision from HYNOVA and CEO Chloé Zaied

Needless to say that Chloé Zaied is bringing a lot of practical experience to building a vessel. Being a captain for years at the national park of Calanques she has made her boats easy to handle even in bad or complicated weather conditions and brings in the mission of protecting the environment wherever possible. For ultimate space usage there is no cabin on deck. To support the value of hydrogen propulsion only ecologically sustainable materials are used on the HYNOVA 40. HYNOVA’s vision is to design unique yacht tenders that don’t pollute or produce harmful goods. But they want to keep the whole process sustainable from design to production and use while keeping a high quality standard. All aspects of ecological responsibility have to be right and audited also the social ones as partners, employees, suppliers, institutions and customers.

Aquon One - best practice propulsion

Enjoying the sea with all its variety and maintaining it for coming generations. HYNOVA shows that this is also possible with hydrogen in vessels other than superyachts. The Aquon One is another example for that. With a length of 19.5m and beam of 9.5m the hydrogen catamaran can accommodate up to 12 people overnight. In terms of sustainability, the materials used for the catamaran include bamboo, cork and recycled leather. The yacht is one of the examples mentioned that can produce hydrogen itself with the 70m² solar cells on board. That gives you the independence of hydrogen fuel stations, but makes you dependent on the production rate. Or you can go with a mix of both, if you want. The propulsion system is awarded as a best practice example by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. Aquon has published some use cases, to demonstrate the possibilities of the hydrogen yacht.

Use case: Monaco to St. Tropez

Imagine taking a trip with friends, family members or a mix of both from Monaco to St. Tropez on a hydrogen yacht. In the cozy lounge on the foredeck you can fully enjoy the trip without disturbing engine noise. The trip takes 5 hours and 30 minutes in one direction at a pace of 8 knots. If you want to drive faster, you can do that for 70 minutes and will be in St. Tropez in 4 hours and 19 minutes. For both cases you can make the return trip without refueling. For the use case where you drive faster you can make the trip 2.8 times without refueling, saving 286€ on diesel costs and 0.59t less CO².  If you drive 8 knots the whole time you can make the trip 7.5 times, save 149€ on diesel and avoid 0.31t CO² emissions.

Monaco Solar & Energy Boat Challenge

Hydrogen powered yachts and vessels will again take center stage at this year’s Monaco Solar & Energy Boat Challenge from 6th to 10th July 2021. This event debuted in 2014. As mentioned last year, this year, we can celebrate on site at the beautiful french riviera of Monaco. Initiated and organized by Yacht Club de Monaco, Prinz Albert II of Monaco Foundation and The International Powerboating Federation, we are looking forward to a breathtaking event. Researchers, technical students like engineers, inventors and industry professionals of all sizes will show their knowledge, proficiency and skills.

• The Energy Class Seventeen teams will battle in catamaran hulls which are supplied by The Monaco Yacht Club. Each team will have free choice what kind of renewable energy source and propulsion system it will use. But they also have the same certain amount of predefined energy resources to start with. Same base, different problem solving.
• The Open Sea Class Hydrogen or electric boats that are available on the market or soon will be are testing their autonomy in a handful of challenges e.g. a 16 nautical mile race from Monaco to Ventemiglia, an endurance and a maneuverability course.
• The Solar Class Only and exclusively solar powered yachts will fight each other in a pushing to the limit speed race and a slalom course.

Who will win the challenges?

In total around thirty teams will line up. The most of them are University teams representing 17 nationalities. 2020 Eco Conception Price and 2019 Innovation Prize Winner SBM Offshore E-Racing Team and seven other teams are going to feature hydrogen propulsion.

But there are more than only three wins for the challenges above. The jury is able to honour outstanding performances by the Coup de Coeur or the Innovation Price. But the most interesting target will be to bring together global players of the boat and yacht industry and let them sit down on a round table holding some discussions about the chances of hydrogen power and its potential and application in future. So let’s see what‘s up to come.

UPDATE: and the winners are...

Energy Class 3rd Place:  Capgemini Engineering from France 2nd Place: E-Racing Team from the Netherlands and Monaco 1st place:   UniBoAT from Italy All three of them used hydrogen boats.

Open Sea Class 3rd Place:  Candela from Sweden 2nd Place:  Lanéva from Monaco 1st place:   Hynova (see above) The winner is the only one in the top 3 with a hydrogen powered boat. Solar Class 3rd Place:  HAN solar from the Netherlands 2nd Place:  Swiss Solar from Suisse 1st place:  Sunflare from the Netherlands

Is there a future for a hydrogen yacht?

The future for hydrogen propulsion seems uncertain. For cars, there already seems to be a trend toward electric cars, but for yachts, the trend does not yet seem so clear. Currently, however, there are already more boats with complete electric propulsion than with hydrogen propulsion. For port and fuel pump operators, this makes it difficult to decide in favor of hydrogen fuel pumps and against charging stations. Above all, hydrogen is criticized for being harmful to the environment, as it is not always produced sustainably. However, it is sustainable if it is produced with green electricity on land or even on board. Hydrogen yachts have the advantage over electric yachts in that they are lighter, as they require smaller batteries. However, battery technology is also advancing so that smaller and lighter batteries with more range can be installed in both types of yachts.

So the future depends on power generation, power storage, and the distribution of charging or fueling stations. In the end, the technology that makes the decisive breakthrough will win. The course of this will be influenced by what happens with road vehicles. There, the possibility exists that electric cars will prevail, but trucks will rely on hydrogen. This also allows both technologies to coexist on the water, depending on the application.

Sources: [1] E. Eastlack et al ., “Zero Emission Super-Yacht,”  2019 Fourteenth International Conference on Ecological Vehicles and Renewable Energies (EVER) , 2019, pp. 1-8, doi: 10.1109/EVER.2019.8813677.

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Lürssen’s First Zero-Emission, Hydrogen Fuel Cell-Powered Superyacht Is Coming in 2025

Well, it does emit something: water., rachel cormack.

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Lürssen is typically tight-lipped about its high-seas endeavors, but, evidently, it can’t contain its excitement about a certain groundbreaking new vessel. The German shipyard has just announced the sale of its first superyacht to be powered by hydrogen fuel-cell technology.

The yard’s managing partner Peter Lürssen recently revealed the news during Lürssen Live in an episode about alternative propulsion technologies.

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“Contrary to our normal behavior we can tell you today that we are actually building a superyacht with a fuel cell installed on the yacht,” Lürssen said. “It is very exciting and he [the owner] gave us permission a week ago to talk about it. This, I think, will push the eco-friendliness of yachts to a new dimension in the new future.”

A rendering of the test plant being built at the yard.  Lürssen

The yard has been working on the methanol-hydrogen fuel cell power plant since 2012 in partnership with the experts at the Freudenberg Group . Essentially, the plant converts methanol into hydrogen, which is then used in fuel cells to generate electricity. The yard says fuel cells have very little maintenance and are more efficient than a diesel engine, plus the only byproduct is water vapor.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen fuel cells pop up in superyacht design. In September 2019, Sinot unveiled the radical 360-foot concept Aqua which was fitted with a hydrogen propulsion system. However, Aqua’s setup will be fully powered by liquid hydrogen whereas Lürssen’s plant converts methanol into hydrogen. Methanol is much easier to handle and store than liquid hydrogen and can still carry a lot of hydrogen within its chemical composition.

Lürssen said the client, who “loves technology and new developments,” requested the yard prove the “practical value” of the new propulsion before greenlighting the project. That value comes in the form of range, autonomy and sustainability . Lürssen says the zero-emissions setup will allow the owner to spend more than 15 nights at anchor or travel more than 1,000 nautical miles without releasing any harmful pollution.

The Lürssen shipyard in Bremen.  Wikicommons

“I think it’s a clear signal that owners who already invest substantial amounts in building yachts are willing to invest that extra bit of money to make that quantum leap of furthering propulsion technology and power technology on a yacht, and this will be a game-changer, especially since it has a lot of practical use,” Lürssen added.

The yard is expected to start testing the methanol-hydrogen power plant this spring. The test plant (pictured above) will produce roughly 120kW of energy and will be used to power one of Lürssen’s production sheds. The first vessel to feature the technology will reportedly be delivered in 2025. We’re certainly glad this superyacht’s out of the bag.

Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the…

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Exploring The Advantages Of Hydrogen Catamarans Over Yachts In A Sustainable World

As the world transitions to a more sustainable way of life, finding ways to enjoy leisure activities without generating an unsustainable carbon footprint is becoming increasingly important. Exploring the advantages of hydrogen catamarans over traditional yachts may provide a viable solution for sustainable seafaring adventures. Discover how in this article!

Since the launch of the world’s first hydrogen-powered catamaran in 2018, there has been a growing interest in this type of vessel as a sustainable option for luxury yacht owners. Hydrogen catamarans offer a number of advantages over traditional yachts, including being more environmentally friendly and cost-effective to operate.

With rising concerns over climate change and the environment, many luxury yacht owners are now looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Hydrogen catamarans offer a way to do this, as they emit no greenhouse gases or other pollutants. In addition, hydrogen fuel is renewable and can be produced from water using green energy sources such as solar and wind power.

Operating a hydrogen catamaran is also much cheaper than running a traditional yacht. This is because hydrogen fuel is currently less expensive than petrol or diesel, and it is expected to become even cheaper in the future as technology improves and production increases.

If you are considering purchasing a luxury yacht, a hydrogen catamaran may be the best option for you. Not only will you be doing your part to help protect the environment, but you will also save money in the long run.

WHAT ARE HYDROGEN CATAMARANS?

Hydrogen catamarans are a type of sailboat that uses hydrogen fuel cells to power its electric motors. These boats are designed to be more fuel efficient and have a smaller environmental impact than traditional yacht designs.

Hydrogen catamarans often have two hulls, or pontoons, which makes them more stable in the water than monohull boats. This design also allows for more living space inside the boat, as well as storage for things like sails and supplies. The extra space and stability is ideal for longer voyages or live-aboard situations.

Hydrogen fuel cells are very efficient, clean-burning energy sources. They produce no emissions, so they’re much better for the environment than petrol or diesel engines. Fuel cells also have a very high power-to-weight ratio, so they’re perfect for use in boats where weight is an important factor (like racing yachts).

One of the biggest advantages of hydrogen catamarans over traditional yachts is their cost. Even though fuel cells are still relatively new technology, the prices are dropping quickly. And since there are no emissions from hydrogen fuel cells, there are no pollution taxes or fees to worry about. This makes them a very attractive option for eco-conscious sailors who want to enjoy their time on the water without harming the planet.

BENEFITS OF A HYDROGEN CATAMARAN OVER A YACHT

There are many reasons to consider a hydrogen catamaran over a yacht. Here are some key benefits:

1. Hydrogen fuel is sustainable and environmentally friendly. It produces no emissions, making it a much cleaner option than traditional petrol or diesel fuel.

2. Hydrogen catamarans are more efficient than yachts, meaning they use less fuel and emit less pollution.

3. Hydrogen catamarans are quieter than yachts, so you can enjoy the peace and quiet of nature without disturbing the wildlife.

4. Hydrogen catamarans have a smaller carbon footprint than yachts because they produce no emissions and use less fuel.

5. Hydrogen catamarans are more affordable than yachts, making them a great option for those who want to enjoy the benefits of boating without breaking the bank.

ECO-FRIENDLINESS

A hydrogen catamaran offers a number of advantages over a yacht in terms of eco-friendliness. Firstly, hydrogen fuel is much cleaner than petrol or diesel, meaning that there are no harmful emissions from the catamaran. Secondly, the catamaran can be powered by renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power, making it even more environmentally friendly. Finally, the use of hydrogen fuel means that the catamaran is much quieter than a petrol or diesel powered vessel, meaning that it will not disturb marine life or nearby residents.

SPEED AND EFFICIENCY

While yachts have long been associated with luxury, they are not known for their speed or efficiency. Hydrogen catamarans, on the other hand, offer both speed and efficiency, making them a more sustainable option in a world where we need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

Hydrogen catamarans can reach speeds of up to 40 knots, making them much faster than most yachts. They are also more efficient, using less fuel to go the same distance as a yacht. This makes them a more sustainable option for those who want to enjoy the luxury of a yacht without harming the environment.

Of course, hydrogen catamarans are not perfect. They still produce emissions, though these are significantly lower than those of yachts. And they are not yet widely available, so you may have to wait a while before you can cruise around in one. But if you`re looking for a more sustainable way to enjoy the luxury of a yacht, a hydrogen catamaran is the way to go.

COMPARISONS BETWEEN HYDROGEN POWERED CRAFT AND ELECTRIC CRAFTS

Electric crafts are powered by electric batteries that are recharged by plugging into an electrical outlet. Hydrogen powered crafts use a fuel cell to convert hydrogen gas into electricity to power the craft. There are many different types of hydrogen powered crafts, including cars, buses, trains, and boats. Hydrogen catamarans are a type of hydrogen powered boat that is becoming increasingly popular due to their many advantages over traditional yachts.

Hydrogen catamarans are much more fuel efficient than traditional yachts. They can travel at the same speeds as traditional yachts, but they use less fuel to do so. This makes them much more environmentally friendly than traditional yachts. Hydrogen catamarans also have a much longer range than traditional yachts. This means that you can travel further without having to stop and refuel.

Hydrogen catamarans are also much quieter than traditional yachts. This is because they don`t have any exhaust fumes like traditional petrol or diesel engine boats. This makes them ideal for use in areas where noise pollution is a concern, such as marinas and waterfront restaurants.

Overall, hydrogen catamarans have many advantages over traditional yachts. They are more fuel efficient, have a longer range, and produce no exhaust fumes. If you`re looking for a sustainable way to travel by boat, a hydrogen catamaran is the perfect choice.

Hydrogen catamarans offer an eco-friendly and sustainable approach to recreation on the water. Compared to yachts, they are quieter, cheaper to maintain and operate, faster, easier to transport, and more efficient in energy usage. As we continue to explore sustainable alternatives for our recreational activities in a changing environment, hydrogen catamarans should be considered as viable options for those seeking leisure time that is not harshly pollutive.

Next Post Harnessing the Power of Hydrogen Yachts - The Future of Sustainable Yachting

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Photoncycle targets low-cost energy storage with a clever hydrogen solution

For years, the solar energy sector has grappled with interseasonal energy storage. The ability to harness the surplus solar energy of summer months for use during the winter has remained an elusive goal, with existing solutions like batteries falling short due to prohibitive costs and limited lifespans. Hydrogen, meanwhile, despite its clean-burning properties, has been sidelined due to inefficiency and high costs.

Photoncycle — a startup emerging from the depths of an accelerator in Oslo Science Park in Oslo, Norway — has been working on a solution. With a vision as bright as the summer sun, the startup claims its solid hydrogen-based technology can store energy more efficiently in an ammonia synthesis reactor . The claim is this tech does the storage more cost-effectively than any battery or liquid hydrogen solution on the market.

A schematic of how Photoncycle envisions its full system when installed at a house. Image Credits:  Photoncycle

“Lithium-ion batteries use costly metals. Our material is super cheap: To store 10,000 kilowatt-hours, it costs around $1,500, so it’s almost nothing. In addition, our storage solution is 20 times the density of a lithium-ion battery, and you don’t lose the current,” founder and CEO Bjørn Brandtzaeg explains in an interview with TechCrunch. “That means we have a system where you can contain energy over time, enabling seasonal storage. It’s a completely different thing than traditional batteries.” 

Photoncycle employs water and electricity to produce hydrogen. That in itself isn’t uncommon if you’ve been following fuel cell vehicle technology. However, the company’s approach incorporates an innovative twist: a reversible high-temperature fuel cell. This advanced fuel cell can produce hydrogen and generate electricity within the same unit. 

The core of Photoncycle’s innovation lies in its treatment of hydrogen. They process the hydrogen and then utilize its technology to convert and store it in a solid form. The company claims this storage method is not only safe, owing to the non-flammable and non-explosive nature of the solid state, but also highly efficient. It enables hydrogen storage at densities approximately 50% greater than liquid hydrogen, presenting a significant advancement in hydrogen storage solutions. These innovations form the cornerstone of Photoncycle’s system, facilitating safe and dense hydrogen storage, which the company says is a huge step forward in energy technology.

Current clean energy solutions such as rooftop solar power are limited by inconsistent supply due to the unpredictable nature of weather conditions. A robust, reusable energy storage solution could bridge these timings, ensuring a stable energy supply when these renewable sources encounter unavoidable intermittent periods. 

Great in theory, but not without its own challenges.

“The Netherlands is the country in Europe with the highest density of rooftop solar. We are seeing a massive ramp now because of high energy prices; everyone wants solar on the roof,” Brandtzaeg says. He adds, however, that this method can backfire for homeowners: “In July last year, in the Netherlands, in the middle of the day, you had to pay €500 a megawatt hour to export your electricity .”

Putting the energy storage along with the house generating the power effectively lets houses go off-grid. Photoncycle says it has tested and worked the main components of its solution — the next step is to integrate it into a system. If successful, the company says it can seriously challenge Powerwall, Tesla’s lithium-ion battery solution.

David Gerez, CTO at Photoncycle, and Ole Laugerud, who is a Photoncycle chemist, in Photoncycle’s purpose-built lab, which has been operational for close to two years. Image Credits:  Photoncycle

“This is a relatively complex system — that’s why we have so many PhDs in different disciplines working on this. The reason why Elon Musk said that hydrogen is stupid, is that when you convert electricity to hydrogen and back, you are losing quite a bit of energy,” Brandtzaeg says. He believes his company can turn this bug into a feature. “In a residential setting where 70% of energy needs are heating, there is an opportunity to use that excess heat to provide hot water. We will target markets where people are using natural gas for heating at the moment and then replace the gas boiler in the house using the existing water-based infrastructure.”

Brandtzaeg’s confidence regarding the concept’s operational framework is compelling. He gestured toward a small mock-up of their operations plant within their labs, scaled down to the size of a car battery. Brandtzaeg believes this scaling should be problem-free, citing it as the primary reason they felt confident moving forward with the project. 

When it comes to power delivery, it takes a little while for the hydrogen to generate electricity, so while it is spooling up, the company relies on an intermediary, more conventional, battery for load balancing. The firm certainly has investors’ attention: Photoncycle  just raised $5.3 million (€5 million) to build its first few power storage devices in Denmark, which Photoncycle has chosen as its test market. 

“We could have raised 10 times as much as we did, given the interest. But after this raise, I’m still a majority owner,” Brandtzaeg says. “I wanted to keep control over the business as long as possible and not raise more capital than we need to bring this service to market.”