We’re accustomed to seeing superyachts splash in sunny weather, and often in warm temperatures. Therefore, the snowy launch for the first Sunreef 80 Eco is out of the ordinary. Regardless, the all-electric catamaran is a significant advancement for not just the Poland-based builder, but also yachting.
Part of the Sunreef Eco Yachts range, the sailing catamaran relies on more than electric motors for maneuvering. In fact, it incorporates technology that the shipyard developed in house. For example, it created its own solar panels. Additionally, they’re ultralight and integrated within the composite hull sides, the superstructure, the mast, and even the hardtop. When this first Sunreef 80 Eco was under construction, Sunreef Yachts’ head of research and development revealed that each panel is less than 1 millimeter thick. Even with this thinness, though, they remain strong and flexible, he added. The peak output of the photovoltaic system is a maximum 36 kW, in line with what diesel gensets provide aboard many similar-size megayachts.
This first Sunreef 80 Eco also employs twin 180-kW electric engines. The shipyard says that while the sailing superyacht is under wind power, she’s still capturing energy. Specifically, the passive motion of the twin props feeds into a hydro-generation system. It should generate upwards of 15 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity when the yacht is sailing at more than 7 knots. That, in turn, can run a variety of the yacht’s hotel-load-related appliances, as well as her propulsion system. For perspective, the U.S. Energy Information Administration says that in 2020, the average American household used about 30kWh of electricity per day.
The shipyard has not revealed details about the interior design of this first Sunreef 80 Eco. Regardless, it offers customers equally sustainable choices. Reclaimed teak, for instance, as well as recycled or naturally sourced fabrics like linen is possible. So, too, are basalt-based furnishings. Sunreef has a variety of renderings showing open-plan layouts for the already ample 37’8” (11.53-meter) beam. And, since each project is semi-custom, the yacht can have up to five guest staterooms all below decks.
“We take a great step forward with this truly pioneering yacht,” asserts Francis Lapp, Sunreef’s founder and president. Renewable energy is at her core, he continues. “The Sunreef 80 Eco provides full autonomy, relying on the sun, water, and wind.”
The 80 Eco is also available as a motoryacht model.
Sunreef Yachts Eco Yachts sunreef-yachts-eco.com
Leave a Reply