2020 will be the year of hybrid yachts: after Volvo Penta unveiled a hybrid prototype for its IPS propulsion system a few months ago, British luxury yacht manufacturer Sunseeker International and Rolls-Royce have decided to present the first yacht equipped with an MTU hybrid propulsion system to be mass-produced in 2020.
The new system will soon be presented at the Boot Düsseldorf boat show (19/27 January).
Nearly 4000 horsepower on the first production hybrid
The new Sunseeker yacht will have an integrated MTU hybrid propulsion system. Almost a total of 4000 horsepower arising from two MTU 2000 series 12-cylinder diesel engines (each with an output of approximately 1,432 kW / 1,947 hp), on-board generators, electric propulsion modules, transmission system, batteries, control and monitoring systems and can be expanded on a modular basis.
The yacht will be equipped with six different easy-to-use operating modes, including automated smart hybrid and charge hybrid modes, which allow all power sources to be used as needed. In an “electric mode”, the yacht’s propulsion and power on board can be continuously supplied by the generators, optimising fuel consumption and on-board comfort for long and night-time passages.
In “silent mode”, which uses energy exclusively from the batteries, up to 40 minutes of propulsion and 120 minutes of power on board are available with each pair of MTU batteries installed, without emissions.
“This latest hybrid technology – explained Sean Robertson of Sunseeker – will feature a brand new model that will be launched in 2020 and will allow owners to choose between multiple modes of operation from the all-electric solution, with zero emissions to the use of two 12-cylinder diesel engines that offer class-leading performance.
“The combination of diesel engines and electric motors, in addition to batteries and their variable application areas, offers yacht owners significant benefits,” said Knut Müller, head of MTU’s maritime and governmental activities. “The quiet cruise, with low vibration and emission levels, offers enormous advantages in terms of on-board comfort. High levels of performance, efficiency, environmental compatibility and propulsion system flexibility are of great interest today when using a yacht. We believe that in the future of yachting the focus will increasingly be on intelligent and innovative solutions, rather than just focusing on the level of power.
