Bill Gates commissions superyacht powered by liquid hydrogen
The yacht, Aqua was designed by Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design and Lateral Naval Architects
Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates has commissioned a $645 million superyacht which will be powered by liquid hydrogen.
Gates' superyacht, dubbed Aqua, is the first of its kind. It will be powered by liquid hydrogen, and was first revealed in December last year at the Monaco Yacht show, reports the UNILAD.
The 370ft-long luxury liner, is said to have more features than an average home. The boat is said to boast five decks, which will be completed with space for 14 guests, 31 crew members, a gym, yoga studio, beauty room, massage parlour and pool on its rear deck.
On the lower level, guests will be able to view the ship's hydrogen fuel tanks through a glass panel. Each tank weighs 28 tons and is vacuum-sealed and cooled to -423F (-253C) to contain the hydrogen fuel.
Liquid hydrogen is pumped through special proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells that convert it into electricity. The supply is then moderated using two fuel cells to make sure it stays constant. To yacht's engines and electronics will run on that energy.
The vessel's only emission is water, which is safely pumped into the ocean.
Despite its novel fuel source, the yacht is able to reach 17 knots and travel 3,750 miles before it needs to refuel, enough to cover an Atlantic crossing from New York to Southampton.
Aqua was designed by Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design and Lateral Naval Architects.
"With every project, I challenge my team and myself to surpass ourselves. For development of Aqua we took inspiration from the lifestyle of a discerning, forward-looking owner, the fluid versatility of water and cutting-edge technology to combine this in a 112 meter (376-foot) superyacht with a fully operational liquid hydrogen and fuel cell system that features ground breaking in technology, as well as design and aesthetics,"said designer Sander Sinot speaking to Forbes magazine.
Gel-fuelled fire bowls in the ship's two entertaining areas will allow guests to stay warm without having to burn wood or coals. This is some of the other eco-friendly features of the superyacht.
For the software tycoon, an interest in alternative fuels is nothing new. Bill Gates has invested in a company called Heliogen, a California start-up looking to create a clean source of hydrogen gas by splitting water molecules without the use of fossil fuels.
