It is fast, quiet and equipped with 300 square metres of solar panels: the 24-metre yacht SolarImpact. This concept yacht, recently presented at Cannes, is as far as we know the first ocean-going yacht to run on solar panels. An 800 kWh battery guarantees 10 hours of sailing time - which gets even longer when the sun shines nicely. And at 24 metres, it is just short of being a superyacht. That means a permanent crew is not required; something that is the case in many countries for yachts that are just a bit longer.
The huge arsenal of solar panels covers almost all upward-facing parts. The panels produce up to 320 kWh per day when there is a lot of sun. In principle, that energy source will suffice as long as conditions are right and passengers have time.
The SolarImpact has an aluminium hull and a total weight of about 70 tonnes. Electrical power is 1,000 kW (1,341 hp) and the maximum speed is a whopping 22 knots. If only solar power is used for all systems, you can basically sail indefinitely. The speed would have to be slightly adjusted to that: 5 knots. At that speed, you could circumnavigate the globe in about six months. If you want to go faster, the battery will irrevocably run down faster. Just for comparison: a normal yacht of similar size consumes about 100 litres of fuel per hour at a speed of 10 knots.
Of course, there will also be days when the sun does not shine. For those moments, the SolarImpact has a pair of 87 hp diesel engines as a backup supply. The drive is automated in such a way that the yacht can be manoeuvred by one person. The helm may therefore look a little simple for a yacht of this size.
Another remarkable feature of the SolarImpact is the stabilisation technology used. Two torpedo-shaped floating hulls below the water surface ensure that sideways rolling motion is drastically reduced. This makes travelling quite comfortable even during strong wave movements. The interior is entirely as you would expect from such a yacht: chic, stylish and luxurious with spacious accommodations for 10 guests and crew.
The concept yacht was presented at the yacht festival in Cannes. A short impression can be found below.
