Project Owner
DRIFT Energy
Project Description
Autonomous yachts will be used to produce green hydrogen using a towed electrolyser that draws seawater. DRIFT Energy plans to take its yachts to the open ocean. According to the designers, the yacht will traverse the sea using strong winds. It will be equipped with a set of modern aerodynamic sails. The yacht will tow an underwater turbine to power an electrolyser that draws seawater.
The project involves building a flotilla of yachts, each of which will follow a route developed according to a special algorithm. The idea is to optimally use hydrometeorological conditions. The yacht will return to port to unload hydrogen when the tanks storing it are filled.
The company has already produced green hydrogen from a demonstrator sailing yacht on its lift foils. Its ambition is to build a class of MVY (most precious yacht) superyachts. The 58m MVY will have a rated power of 1-2MW, producing 150,000kg of hydrogen per year, DRIFT says.
The yachts are expected to operate as custom-built shadow vessels to provide net-zero emissions and fuel independence to other vessels. They are also expected to operate as part of a flotilla generating green hydrogen for bunkering at sea or in port.
Project Location