World's First Hydrogen Fuel Cell Yacht Gives Feadship Net Zero Edge

World’s First Hydrogen Fuel Cell Yacht Gives Feadship Net Zero Edge

Forbes | Kathleen Turner | Jul 30, 2024

Feadship did it. They pushed green technology toward their Net Zero 2030 agenda and succeeded in building the first Hydrogen Fuel Cell superyacht, Project 821. An important step toward their carbon neutral goal, the 390-foot (118-meter) yacht is not yet capable of ocean crossings using energy from the fuel cell alone, but the majority of the yacht's energy demands, those issued by the hotel load and amenities, can be powered via fuel-cell generated electricity for as long as a week at anchor.

Fuel cell technology can also be used to silently cruise, emission-free, through environmentally sensitive areas that prohibit diesel powered yachts, or to maneuver quietly in and out of marinas. Additionally, when pure hydrogen is unavailable, Project 821 can run on either methanol or HVO, second-generation biofuel that reduces emissions by 90 percent.

According to YETI, the Yacht Environmental Transparency Index, the average hotel load of a yacht equals between 70-78 percent of the annual energy use for most superyachts, with heating and air conditioning drawing the highest consumption. Project 821's carbon footprint will be significantly reduced with this technology, turning out by-products of electricity and water vapor, or steam when powered by hydrogen processed in the fuel cell.

Feadship R & D found that no regulations for hydrogen storage and fuel-cell systems existed, so they sought expert partners in Edmiston and Lloyd's Register to develop appropriate equipment, protocols, and safety regulations. Feadship worked through the biggest challenge, that of finding a reasonable way to store compressed liquid hydrogen below deck at -487 degrees F (-253 C) on a luxury superyacht. Hydrogen is light, but requires double walled cryogenic storage in a dedicated room that takes up ten times the space required to store the energy equivalent of diesel...more
https://www.forbes.com/sites/katturner/2024/07/30/worlds-first-hydrogen-fuel-cell-yacht-gives-feadship-net-zero-edge/

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