Drift Energy's Innovative Sailboats: Pioneering Green Hydrogen Production and Delivery at Sea
Key Ideas
- Drift Energy's autonomous sailboats successfully produced and stored green hydrogen at sea, surpassing expectations during a trial off the coast of Brightlingsea, Essex.
- The startup secured £4.65 million in funding from key investors to further develop their fleet of high-performance sailing vessels designed to produce green hydrogen using wind power.
- The sailboats will utilize a megawatt class electrolyser for hydrogen production and storage, with AI guidance systems enabling efficient distribution based on weather conditions.
- Drift Energy aims to contribute to the global green energy transition by developing MVY-class superyachts capable of producing 150,000 kg of hydrogen per year.
Drift, a UK startup, has made a breakthrough with autonomous sailboats that can generate and deliver green hydrogen at sea. The first vessel produced and stored green hydrogen off the coast of Brightlingsea, exceeding predictions. Drift secured £4.65 million in seed funding from investors like Octopus Ventures and Blue Action Accelerator. The company plans to use this investment to continue developing their fleet of modern sailing vessels to generate green hydrogen by harnessing wind power. The vessels will house megawatt-class electrolyzers for hydrogen production and storage in standard containers. AI guidance systems will assist in distributing the hydrogen efficiently by detecting optimal weather conditions. Drift also aims to support other ships in achieving zero-emission goals by 'shadowing' them. The company's ultimate goal is to build MVY-class superyachts capable of producing 150,000 kg of hydrogen annually. This innovative approach is part of a larger effort to find sustainable ways to produce and transport green hydrogen, a cleaner alternative to traditional hydrogen fuel derived from natural gas and steam methane. Drift's commitment to 'Oceans of Energy' is driven by a vision to revolutionize green energy practices and contribute to a more sustainable future.