Green Gets The Go-ahead

Innovative propulsion systems are finally becoming a reality for yachts of all sizes.

- Words: Katia Damborsky Illustrations: Brown Bird Design

IN YACHTING, AS elsewhere, 'sustainability' has become a go-to buzzword, typically more bluster than breakthrough. Alternative methods of propulsion—hydrogen fuel cells and green methanol for superyachts, say, or diesel-electric power for vessels under 100ft—have been discussed for years, yet are often dismissed by builders as too complex and expensive.

But now a band of pioneering yards and owners are designing never-before-seen eco-friendlier systems with the technical bona fides to be legitimate game changers. They not only reduce emissions but also offer other tangible benefits over the status quo, from silent anchoring to smoother manoeuvring. Here, three yachts charting a course for the future, today.

Sanlorenzo 50 Steel | 164ft Reformer fuel-cell technology