Sunreef 100 Eco Yacht Shows Off Solar Skin

Solar power and hydrogeneration are just part of the story behind the Sunreef 100 Eco yacht. The launch of hull number one marks what Sunreef Yachts believes is the future of sailing superyachts.

Independence from diesel fuel for arriving in and departing from marinas, repositioning, and similar needs has been a priority for Sunreef Yachts since its inception. Expanding Sunreef’s sustainable supercat series, the Sunreef 100 Eco yacht has twin 360-kW electric engines and a 770-kW battery bank onboard. Additionally, the latest generation of its in-house-developed solar power system, with the panels embedded in the bimini, superstructure, and hull, is aboard.

The solar panels—which Sunreef terms a solar “skin,” due to being quite thin—are worth a closer look. A total of 2,610 square feet (242.5 square meters) of panels is integrated. Nicholas Lapp, the shipyard’s director of research and development, says they’re less than 1 millimeter thick. Furthermore, they weigh less than 2 kilos per square meter, which is about 4.4 pounds per 11 square feet. Yet, they remain strong and flexible, capable of forming to any part of the yacht.

The technology was an easy sell for the owner, due to being a returning customer. So was the semi-custom configuration. Although details on the layout and décor aren’t available, generally speaking up to 10 people can stay aboard. Buyers can select a main-deck master suite, with guest staterooms split between the twin hulls. If clients prefer all staterooms below decks, the main deck’s interior becomes a massive open-plan relaxation and dining area.

Outside, meanwhile, the Sunreef 100 Eco yacht has an “Ocean Lounge,” a beamy beach area spanning the hulls just above the water. It’s for lounging, swimming, or boarding watertoys. Those toys stow in dedicated areas aft in each hull. The owner of hull number one has a dive locker, too, along with a customary tender garage.

“With the Sunreef 100 Eco, we are proving that the future of superyachting can be both luxurious and responsible,” Francis Lapp, Sunreef Yachts’ founder and president, says.