Innovation & Sustainability

Self-Sufficiency

What sailors have over motorboat owners is that they don’t have to worry about fuel. No need to think about refuelling, no price fluctuations and no dependence on the nearest marina. For most sailors, this has long been a reality – or at least almost. Air conditioning, fridges, watermakers and the windless all require power, which is often still generated by generators.

Battery-powered photovoltaic systems are already widespread for the hotel sector. Properly sized, they can even power Atlantic crossings – including energy for the wind vane. The ever-cheaper batteries make this possible. On cloudy days, wind generators produce electricity. Even the engine runs self-sufficiently on this. None of this is new, and yet it’s wonderful.

What about motorboats? Surely photovoltaics and electric motors go hand in hand? True, but… Boats and yachts such as the Austrian Silent Yachts, Green Dream Boats’ Solliner E21 or the Jeanneau Sea Loft 480 show that 100 per cent energy self-sufficiency is possible.

Of course, it all depends on the intended use. But if it’s possible, I wouldn’t want anything else. No worries about refuelling, route planning independent of marinas, and I don’t get annoyed that the diesel was so much cheaper at the last marina.

Let’s take it a step further: what does self-sufficiency in the propulsion system require? Low energy consumption and high energy generation. That means we need efficient hulls, high-efficiency propulsion systems (e.g. from Bosch) and efficient power transfer to the water (e.g. the Hydro Impulse). We also need high yields from photovoltaic panels and wind generators.

Of course, boats designed for water skiing or sustained high speeds will not (yet) achieve full self-sufficiency. But even here, hybrid systems, dual-fuel engines, support foils or innovations such as Aeroforce’s Propulsion Wings enable a significant reduction in diesel and petrol consumption.

I don’t expect any major leaps forward with motorboats, but greater clarity from policy-makers is needed regarding new innovations in propulsion systems. In any case, I’m looking forward to the developments yet to come.

What do you think the future holds for our boats? Drop us a line hello@alba-innovations.com.