After five years of research by the Swiss company SolarImpact Yacht, the vision of a seaworthy solar yacht with futuristic modern aesthetics has now been realised. This innovative high-tech design concept was developed to combine luxurious convenience, modern design and sustainability, and make it capable of sailing the high seas.
This revolutionary ship technology will first be unveiled at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2018, where visitors can explore a virtual 3D model of the solar yacht.
This new yacht is a game-changer, not just in terms of its solar propulsion and design. Two aspects that have prevented a pleasant stay on board in the past have also been addressed: rough seas and high noise levels. The innovative solar yacht glides almost silently and without swaying – even over waves several metres high. The hull technology is based on the SWATH (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull) construction principle, which has been known since 1938 but was previously reserved forspecial ships only: two torpedo-shaped buoyancy hulls under the water surface support the ship. This achieves a physical shaft decoupling that reduces the rolling and heeling of the yacht by up to 90 percent. It lies calmly in the water even in strong swells, putting an end to the annoying swaying motion of the boat.
But SolarImpact has recognised that the principle offers yet another invaluable advantage: it significantly reduces energy consumption. All systems on board can use the sun as their primary energy source. The yacht‘s solar drive is not only environmentally friendly, but also extremely quiet.
Not only is the solar yacht almost self-sufficient in terms of energy, but with a top speed of over 20 knots it is also exceptionally fast. This is due to the technical components used, which collectively ensure the yacht‘s high overall efficiency and are optimally controlled using artificial intelligence (AI). All key systems are highly automated, so that a single person can even manoeuvre the yacht.
The 78-foot yacht offers 340 square metres (3,660 square feet) of luxuriously and functionally designed living space on three levels, and a wide range of options regarding interior furnishings, design, and modern lighting, air-conditioning and sound solutions. The primary energy required for this, too, is supplied by a total of 300 m2 of solar surface; all important components have a redundant set-up. A diesel aggregate additionally ensures the yacht‘s comprehensive operating reliability, even in unfavourable weather conditions such as longer periods of cloud cover.