Innovative Fuel-Cell Technology on the 50Steel Yacht: A Sustainable Luxury Experience
Key Ideas
  • The 50Steel yacht utilizes a fuel-cell system that generates 100kW by reforming e-methanol into hydrogen, producing electricity without combustion.
  • The system is capable of powering the hotel load requirements of 45 to 90kW, providing sufficient energy for onboard operations day and night.
  • With multiple charging options including fuel cell, genset, hybrid system, or shore power, the yacht can operate autonomously for a week before needing a methanol refill.
  • Siemens is working on more powerful fuel cells for future upgrades, although system re-engineering would be necessary due to equipment size differences.
The 50Steel yacht features an innovative fuel-cell system that generates 100kW by converting e-methanol into hydrogen, enabling electricity production through a chemical reaction that emits only water. This sustainable approach to energy production allows the yacht to meet its hotel load requirements, ranging from 45 to 90kW, ensuring continuous power supply both day and night. The vessel can operate autonomously for a week with all systems running before requiring a methanol refill, thanks to charging options like fuel cell, genset, hybrid system, or shore power. Siemens is exploring advanced fuel cells to increase power generation capacity, although upgrading would involve re-engineering the system to accommodate larger equipment sizes. Sanlorenzo's CEO proposed incentivizing fuel-cell technology by exempting dedicated fuel cell space from total GT calculations, encouraging its adoption in the yachting industry. E-methanol, the fuel source for the fuel-cell system, is a 'green' alternative to traditional methanol, as it is produced from renewable sources, making it a 'net zero' fuel in terms of carbon emissions.
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