Fuelling the Future: Part I
There is nothing more liberating and exhilarating than life on the waves. Aboard a superyacht, the pinnacle of craftsmanship and unadulterated luxury, you have the ocean beneath you and the world in the palm of your hand. In 2022, never has this expression held so much significance. Our beloved Mediterranean Sea is a popular playground, the second busiest cruising ground on the planet after the Caribbean, but it needs looking after and we can do our part to protect her spoils.
To date, the inevitable footprint on the ocean is in large part due to the fossil fuels that motorboats burn but it won’t always be this way. The industry tide is turning, technology paving the way to a greener future. Solar yachts, hybrid engines, alternative fuels, lighter craft, adapted systems. The woke generation is propelling a wave of sustainable solutions to safeguard our home.
“The real objective is to reduce the total greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 per cent by 2050, with full decarbonisation by 2100.”
As environmental regulations get stricter and ports in Europe and North America establish more and more emission-control areas, the yachting industry is continually seeking innovative ways to reduce or even completely eradicate the carbon cost of motoring out at sea. Late last year, Rolls-Royce announced that it is working on new engines compatible with methanol to be used in commercial vessels. Part of the company’s “Net Zero at Power Systems” program, a high-speed four-stroke pure methanol engine is being developed to harness the liquid’s cleaner combustion which emits considerably fewer toxic gases. The production of methanol is far more sustainable too, using the power-to-X process to convert green electricity into this carbon-neutral liquid.
Like the automobile industry, hybrid engines are already in play to improve yacht sustainability. Running on electric power not only significantly reduces underwater emissions, it also eliminates noise from generators, creating a quieter ride. Passengers can enjoy the tranquillity and the marine life is less disturbed. Hybrid-electric power also improves ship manoeuvrability, limiting the time and emissions expended when coming into port.
Shipyards are building on green credentials and reducing their environmental impact by producing lighter vessels that use less energy to power and choosing organic and recycled materials for their craft. In the next chapter, we will look in more depth at the changes to the architecture and construction processes of boats that are generating more energy-efficient vessels in a much more sustainable way.
In the meantime, we can all be more mindful of our carbon footprint on the boats we have already fallen in love with, the vehicles that connect us to the ocean’s wild. Fuel consumption increases exponentially with the revolutions per minute (rpm) of your engine so whilst doubling the rpm does not mean doubling your speed, it does mean significantly increasing how much fuel you’re burning off. Gliding more peacefully through the water, not straining the engine, limits your disturbance and makes for an altogether more graceful experience.
Want to know more before Part II? Please get in touch with the Komodo team.