Outstanding innovation and mastery have been a constant motivator for Lürssen. The German-based superyacht builder is renowned for creating vessels that lead in quality and performance and has recently set its sights on developing new and carbon-neutral technology.
The latest yachts built by the yard in their state-of-the-art production facilities boast advancements in noise reduction, fuel consumption, and lower emissions as the company move towards sustainable yachting that reduces the environmental impact.
Since 2005, Lürssen has been directly involved with research projects that explore the use of fuel cell technology. A collaboration in 2009 in the national research project – called Pa-X-ell, led to the development and testing of a hybrid energy system that uses PEM fuel cells for seagoing passenger vessels with methanol as hydrogen carrier.
Each fuel cell contains a Proton Exchange Membrane coated with a catalytic surface; electrons and protons travel through the membrane and combine with oxygen to form water. Multiple cells are assembled in stack to form a power-generating core. The electrical energy created can be used to power a yacht’s electrical consumers, and the heat can be transferred to warm the onboard swimming pool for example.
Alternative fuels have a lower energy density compared to diesel and therefore require more space on board. Among the alternative fuels such as hydrogen, LNG and methanol, methanol has the most favorable properties for yachts. It can be stored in the double bottom and is liquid at room temperature, making it similarly easy to handle as diesel. Methanol is also completely bio-degradable, so should the worst happen, any leaks or spills will not negatively affect the ocean water quality, or affect plants, or marine life.
Methanol is already widely used as a base product for many chemical engineering applications and therefore available in many ports worldwide, and green methanol can be produced from recycled carbon dioxide in a closed cycle.
Developing the new marine hybrid fuel cell was undertaken by the leading maritime fuel cell expert Freudenberg and integrated by Lürssen in a purpose-built facility constructed on site. At this Innovation Lab, fuel cells can be monitored and tested under real-life conditions, and the technological research has been a success leading to significant learnings for fuel cell-powered yachts.
To advance their sustainable agenda even further, Lürssen has entered a strategic partnership with Freudenberg. The collaboration has yielded positive results as Lürssen aims to use the newly developed fuel cells aboard their upcoming projects. The Lürssen-Freudenberg fuel cell concept uses hydrogen, which is continuously reformed from methanol, a substance readily available and easier to handle and store than elemental hydrogen. Currently, a new build project is underway that will incorporate this carbon-neutral and sustainable technology.
As a sustainable energy source, the innovative fuel cell technology avoids harmful emissions like nitrogen oxide, sulfur oxide, and soot, producing power in a completely carbon-neutral process when measured across the entire life cycle. Methanol is a by-product of other chemical processes and Philipp Himmelein, head of project design and naval architecture yachts at Lürssen, explains,
“The hydrogen fuel cell has a long history of providing an efficient, sustainable solution across many varied applications. As well as the environmental considerations, an additional benefit of a fuel cell is that it is practically silent compared to a diesel engine, meaning that on-board comfort can be significantly improved.”
The addition of fuel cells not only supports conventional yacht systems, but it allows the vessel to cruise for up to 1000 miles at slow speed, and anchor carbon neutral for 15 days in noise and vibration-free movement that promises improvements in both reliability and performance. Future projects for Lürssen hope to see yachts that are powered entirely by fuel cell technology.
Historically, diesel-electric propulsion systems reduced noise and brought higher efficiency to yachting. These have been phased out over the past two decades as designers and engineers developed more sustainable solutions like hybrid drive concepts to meet demands of speed and comfort. IMO Tier III regulations are concerned with reducing environmental pressure and improving air quality by reducing NOx emissions. Green energy conversion and remaining carbon neutral are currently huge topics within the yachting industry.
Lürssen teams have been driving forward to develop new technologies with their partners and create systems that can operate more cleanly with lower environmental impact. Innovations like exhaust after treatments and energy production using technology like fuel cells for yacht propulsion allow superyachts to be built that are almost noiseless, emission-free, and climate neutral.
Fuel cell technology combined with marine hybrid systems meets IMO regulations while taking safety into account with solutions that are safe, quiet, clean, and sustainable. New standards are being met and exceeded continuously as yachting moves into a more responsible era, working cohesively with the environment and reducing dependency on fossil fuels and other high-emission power sources.
Yachting sustainability will continue to advance with increased innovations and inventions, and Lürssen, with its commitment to ongoing research, is at the forefront, leading new initiatives and implementing original future concepts.
Photos: Tom Van Oossanen, Lürssen - Words: Emma Hersh
