Is hydrogen the eco future of superyachting?
The launch of Sanlorenzo’s radical new ship brings zero-impact energy production to the industry for the first time
This week, at its headquarters in La Spezia, Italy, the Italian superyacht maker Sanlorenzo launched a yacht that its CEO Massimo Perotti is describing as “revolutionary”. The 50m long 50Steel model named Almax is the group’s most climate-friendly ship ever, and is the first superyacht to use a green methanol reformer fuel cell system that produces hydrogen to power the ship’s onboard systems and creates zero carbon-dioxide emissions. Replacing the traditional diesel generator with a hydrogen one, says Perotti, “means the boat’s engines can be entirely turned off when the yacht isn’t sailing”.
Perotti bought the yacht maker in 2005 and has increased its revenue from €40mn in 2004 to €840mn last year. He built this new yacht for himself but is taking orders now for delivery in 2027. “I couldn’t really sell Almax to anybody else [because it’s an industry first].” There are still, he says, marinas where green methanol is hard to find.
Yachts are responsible for 0.2 per cent of emissions within the shipping industry, which overall is responsible for three per cent of global emissions. Yacht makers are, increasingly turning to green solutions that include hybrid engines as the industry has come under pressure to reduce its carbon footprint. Industry insiders say that taking onboard electricity consumption out of the emissions picture is a step in the right direction as yacht owners spend an increasing amount of time on board during the year, thanks to post-pandemic flexible working arrangements.
“In our view this move by Sanlorenzo proves it is the trailblazer of the green transition of the yachting industry,” says Chiara Rotelli, an analyst at Mediobanca, a member of the Net Zero Banking Alliance. “We expect other players to follow.”
The yacht also features a “hidden engine room”, patented by Sanlorenzo, that has changed the layout of the ship, freeing up the lower deck area for extra lounging space, cabins and a spa. A fully chartered weekend-long trip on the ship – which spans five staggered decks designed by Bernardo Zuccon – was auctioned for charity for €160,000 during a gala dinner to mark the launch. The boat, which can host up to 10 guests and nine crew members, will make its maiden voyage in July and will be available for more charters.
“It’s one thing to pollute because you are operating a hospital and saving lives,” says Perotti, “but if you are polluting because you need to go take a dip out at sea with your megayacht, it’s different. My children ask me all the time why we are building these large ships. New generations see things differently, so we have to start doing things differently.”