Netherlands

GoodFuels 

The superyacht fleet has a problem: while fuel cells and multifuel engines may be the future for power on board, what of the 6,000 vessels still reliant on fossil diesel? Second-generation renewable fuels may offer an immediate solution – albeit at a price.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/268412/image/large-6b982a29cd25b351202b53e071fc0bfd.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/268412">“Yachts live forever,” says Giedo Loeff, Head of Research and Development at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a>. “We have a huge, 6,000-strong fleet and we will keep on refitting them. They will survive though to the 2050 Net Zero targets, and in order to decarbonise we need to have all these vessels sail on non-fossil fuel, and they can only run on diesel today. Converting all these yachts to run something else is not impossible, but it’s not viable.”This is an eye-opening perspective, particularly when everyone seems to be touting hydrogen, methanol and fuel cells as our environmental saviours. With such a large existing fleet, 70 percent of which are below 50 metres in length, and with the technological and design challenges of future fuels still a huge hurdle to overcome, what does that mean for owners now and in the near future?It turns out there is a solution that enables the current fleet to decarbonise without making any modifications to their vessels. It is often referred to as ‘biodiesel’, although more accurately we should be calling it renewable diesel or synthetic fuel. Biodiesel has been around for some time and is used as an additive to conventional fossil diesel, but it also has a reputation for causing problems in tanks and engines, and for the sometimes non-sustainable feedstocks used to make it.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/268410/image/large-804600657d48ecc7db6acf403f1fd6bb.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/268410">But things are changing. “First, I think it is important to distinguish between the different types of sustainable diesel replacement fuels,” begins Bart Hellings, COO/CTO of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7107" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="GoodFuels (Company)">GoodFuels</a>, a Dutch company committed to facilitating the energy transition away from fossil fuels that has supplied a handful of superyachts with renewable diesel. “With biodiesel, many people refer to a product called FAME (fatty acid methyl-ester) that has been around for 20 years or so, but it is way trickier from a technical perspective than conventional fossil diesel. There is also a second-generation product called HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) that is a sustainable drop-in replacement for diesel, which has properties that are similar or superior to conventional fossil diesel. This is the fuel that we think could play a very important role in the superyacht sector going forward.”The second generationHVO has been commercially available for around five years and is promoted as an alternative to diesel for transportation, in particular for fleets of trucks and for large commercial ships, as well as for aviation. Indeed, there is a growing list of refineries scaling up production of HVO. Finnish company Neste – one of the world’s largest producers of renewable diesel with refineries in Finland, The Netherlands and Singapore – claims that global renewable fuel production could reach over 1,000 megatons of oil equivalent by 2040, which it says would be enough to replace all fossil fuels used in aviation and maritime transport, as well as a substantial part of road transport. But what of the now?&nbsp;“This fuel is readily available now – it has been developed for road use and is therefore 100 percent suitable for the engines that power superyachts,” says Hellings. “The fuel we supply to the yachting segment is more or less comparable to fossil diesel – it has slightly more energy per kilogram, slight less per litre, but overall you don’t really notice a difference on board. You don’t need to recalibrate the engine or change any equipment.”This last point is key, because it opens the door for superyacht owners, captains and managers to make the decision to switch to renewable diesel. “Our experience is that you need the whole ecosystem to change,” says Hellings.&nbsp;The first person you have to convince is the one who pays the bill. To do it in a responsible way, you also need approval from the engine manufacturer, from the Class society, from the insurer, and from the manufacturers of all the other connected components. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/268407/image/large-c86d9a71d80677a63c1c1de227c088ec.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/268407">All the main engine manufacturers have now updated their guidance to say that renewable diesel that complies with quality standard EN15940 can be run in their engines. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1408" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Caterpillar Inc (Company)">Caterpillar</a>, for instance, notes that no engine conversion process is needed, that renewable fuels are compatible with after treatment technologies such as SCR, that they are compatible with typical filters and engine oils, and that they can be stored in the same tanks as diesel fuel.&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2207" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Rolls-Royce Marine (Company)">Rolls-Royce</a>, parent to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1409" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="MTU (Company)">MTU</a>, is taking a proactive approach with a pledge to reduce the emissions of its product portfolio by 35 per cent by 2030, and part of that will be simply moving away from fossil fuels in its combustion engines. Renewable diesel (a paraffinic fuel oil with a cetane number that is actually higher than fossil diesel) is perfect for that, as it reduces CO2 emissions by up to 90 per cent and also benefits from reduced NOx, zero SOx and less particulate matter than fossil diesel.In spite of this, the uptake of renewable diesel by the superyacht fleet has been minimal. Loeff thinks this comes down to three reasons: understanding, reputation, and cost.&nbsp;“First it’s about well-to-wake,” he explains. “If you comprehend that, you understand why HVO is something totally different from regular fossil diesel, because it is about running yachts on non-fossil energy. I don’t think everyone understands that truly.”&nbsp;Second, there is nervousness within the market about biodiesel and FAME having nasty effects on high-spec engines.&nbsp;“But HVO is different,” says Loeff, “it’s a synthetic fuel that has no contamination, and engine emissions are also reduced because the fuel has very high purity.”&nbsp;His third point is that it’s much more expensive than regular diesel, and it has to come typically from much further away when you bunker, so that’s an additional cost in the supply chain.Hellings agrees, but points out that the cost of renewable diesel also varies significantly, because some countries offer subsidies or incentives for renewable fuels. The Netherlands is a prime example.&nbsp;“We have a quite substantial incentive scheme for fuel supply to shipping, and that means if we supply HVO out of The Netherlands we would be looking at a price that is between 50 per cent and 100 per cent higher than fossil diesel,” he says. “But if we were to supply it out of the Caribbean, we would likely be looking at double or triple the price of conventional diesel.”The same is true for more localised delivery: there are no subsidies in France, for instance, meaning bunkering would be more expensive on the Côte d’Azur than in Rotterdam.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/268408/image/large-2f17b53a1b4bb55e2c9681076f84c4b5.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/268408">Fuelling the futureAs HVO production scales up and more feedstocks become viable, does that mean the HVO will become more widely available and, at the same time, more cost effective? Moreover, has the rising price of fossil fuels following the events unfolding in eastern Europe meant that the price gap has closed?&nbsp;Unfortunately, it seems that the answer to both these questions is ‘no’. In the first instance, a combination of rigorous emissions goals and a drive for transport companies in all sectors to show they are taking positive action on climate change will likely drive demand up in line with that increase in production. On the second point, Loeff suggests that the energy market is uniform and linked whether referring to conventional fossil or renewable fuels.There is also the question of traceability. “It’s the elephant in the room with these fuels,” says Loeff. “It’s all about transparency, because the products which aren’t traceable or which don’t have the correct certification don’t have value, because you can produce a similar fuel to HVO from natural gas which is a fossil feedstock. The same is true, incidentally, for hydrogen.”&nbsp;The bigger hurdle, however, is uptake. As Loeff points out, he sees recreational craft using HVO locally in The Netherlands, but use on superyachts so far has been limited:“I haven’t heard about a yacht bunkering, or at least not for 100% HVO, and certainly not from our fleet yet,” he says. “But I think there will be some owners who understand it and are willing to pay the premium because in terms of the operational budget it’s still manageable. But I do wonder how the budget issue is resolved; I think that only happens when non-fossil is subsidised, like it is in The Netherlands.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/268409/image/large-e9c98ca190ae1515266ff5ea8a65ee57.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/268409">Rule changesThere’s another driver that may dictate the transition away from fossil fuels: legislation. It is already taking shape in the IMO relating to greenhouse gas standards, something that SYBAss is monitoring closely, but more importantly the EU is taking big steps of its own.&nbsp;“The EU has announced that ships over 5,000 GT will need to report their fuel use, both the amount of fuel and the fuel’s specification,” says Loeff. At the end of the day it will be about global warming potential (GWP) – a means of reporting warming-equivalent emissions – and the adding of that to the Emissions Trading Scheme, which represents the cost that somebody has to pay. “With non-fossil fuels like HVO there’s pretty much no GWP, but with fossil fuels there’s a lot,” Loeff adds.With the regulations applying to commercial shipping over 5,000 GT there is potential for it to include superyachts at the larger end of the scale, although there is debate as to whether yachts will slip under the radar. Either way, it speaks to a growing shift in the marine environment and it’s not hard to imagine such emissions reporting being extended downwards in the future, which would likely snare considerably more of the superyacht fleet.Arguably the most critical factor, however, is the collective conscience of the superyacht fleet and their owners. With HVO completely interchangeable with fossil diesel, even owners who baulk at the cost can take small steps toward decarbonisation by moving to 10 per cent or 20 per cent HVO in their tanks.&nbsp;“There is no real excuse to wait anymore,” Hellings urges. “We understand that it feels uncomfortable to suddenly change to 100 per cent alternative fuel, but that should not be the reason not to do it. We have been supplying the same HVO fuel to the same type of engines for five years already, without any issues; it’s better than the conventional diesel you buy. It’s important to get people on board with this journey as soon as we can, and to get those early adopters who can inspire the next tier.”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/268406/image/large-cd9627fc9ea75b8c55e02d028e39f4e7.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/268406">This article was originally published in September 2022 within Issue 1 of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/how-to-build-it" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">How to Build It</a>&nbsp;magazine. <a href="https://superyachttimes.com/api/download/how-to-build-it-issue-1" target="_blank">You can download the entire magazine for free here</a>.

A study of renewable fuels 

In our first issue of How to Build It, we did a study of future fuels.

Bio-bunkering: Why yachting’s energy transition is already here

This year’s Yacht Design and Innovation Hub at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1429" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Monaco Yacht Show (Company)">Monaco Yacht Show</a> has been showcasing the work of designers from across the globe, and exhibiting nnovative solutions in design and sustainability. Launched last year, and now extended to integrate the Design Gallery under one single exhibition space, designers have been showcasing their latest designs and works on the docks of Virage Louis Chiron in collaboration with the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5877" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Water Revolution Foundation (Company)">Water Revolution Foundation</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4509" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="SuperYacht Times (Company)">SuperYacht Times</a>. Here is everything you may have missed from this year’s event:<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/265465/image/large-ff00a2ec0505c47265b71baf71700a62.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/265465"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7107" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="GoodFuels (Company)">GoodFuels</a>Kicking off with the first talk of this year’s event was global developer and supplier of biofuel, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7107" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="GoodFuels (Company)">GoodFuels</a>. Led by Business Development Manager, Lana Sissing, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7107" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="GoodFuels (Company)">GoodFuels</a> discussed how yacht owners can start reducing emissions. The company is dedicated to offering viable alternatives to fossil fuels and educated attendees of the talk on the benefits of MD1 for yachts.&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2213" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="VBH (Company)">VBH (Van Berge Henegouwen)</a>Jeroen Van den Hurk, CEO of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2213" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="VBH (Company)">VBH</a> spoke about the company’s new ‘Invisible Technology’ that allows interior design to be prioritised above the visibility of technology. The company specialises in integrating luxury technology into superyachts by looking at innovative design solutions. During the talk <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2213" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="VBH (Company)">VBH</a> discussed new technology such as a magic user interface and smart control systems. "People don't use a product because of a great design, great designs help them to use the product," concluded Jeroen Van den Hurk.&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Diana Yacht Design B.V. (Company)">Diana Yacht Design</a>The team at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Diana Yacht Design B.V. (Company)">Diana Yacht Design</a> wowed the audience with a talk about artificial intelligence in yacht design. The presentation was led by Casper Marelis and Nick Hoedjes who spoke about concept yachts such as the 77-metre superyacht Project Kaizen. The name itself is based on ‘kaizen’, or ‘change for the better’: the Japanese business philosophy of continuous improvement.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/265466/image/large-d2639ea52107c858c3d6e3bd7fa29305.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/265466"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/926" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design (Company)">Sinot Yacht Architecture and Design</a>The award-winning Dutch design studio, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/926" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design (Company)">Sinot</a> presented the 129.6-metre superyacht concept Poetry. The refreshing new design focuses on the owner’s perspective by providing ultimate privacy with their own deck while overcoming traditions in yacht design. Poetry will also be equipped with hydrogen-electric engines.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6718" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Frers Design (Company)">Frers Yacht Design</a>Germán Mani Frers of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6718" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Frers Design (Company)">Frers Yacht Design</a> offered an insight into yacht design and how it can help to reduce the overall environmental impact. The informative talk discussed how a refined shape can reduce drag, as well as taking a closer look into <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/122" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Royal Huisman (Company)">Royal Huisman</a>’s 85-metre New World Sloop. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6718" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Frers Design (Company)">Frers Yacht Design</a> are responsible for the design and engineering, with the project pledging to use sustainable recycled materials or simple low-impact materials to reduce her environmental impact.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/283" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Luiz de Basto Designs (Company)">De Basto Yacht Design</a>Designer Luiz Basto disclosed to the audience more details of the 41-metre steel explorer superyacht, Amer 41. He highlighted her innovative hull shape, as well as an advanced new propulsion system, which aims to significantly reduce consumption and emissions, whilst still guaranteeing silence and comfort for her onboard guests. The yacht will also be fitted with a new evolutionary system to quickly and safely launch and retrieve tenders. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/265508/image/large-24eee3d0e25ef68278c1d678e5e1c04a.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/265508"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4611" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Argo Navis (Company)">Argo Navis</a>Serbia-based marine specialist <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4611" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Argo Navis (Company)">Argo Navis</a> spoke about the ‘Art of Progressive Newness’ and how this embodies their approach to work. The talk covered everything from ownership to chartering and showcased the team’s current portfolio, as well as its latest 10.5-metre custom Limo Tender.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7108" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="HY-Plug (Company)">HY-Plug</a>&nbsp;+ <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6059" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hynova Yachts (Company)">HYNOVA</a> &amp;&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7109" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="EPHYRA World (Company)">EPHYRA</a><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7108" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="HY-Plug (Company)">HY-Plug</a> Founding President, Camille Lopez and CEO and Founder of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/6059" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hynova Yachts (Company)">HYNOVA</a> and General Manager of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7109" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="EPHYRA World (Company)">EPHYRA</a>, Chloé Zaïed were on-hand to discuss sustainable yachting regulations and green technologies. The duo explained the legal regulatory framework of hydrogen gas compressed refills at ports using feedback from experience.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5009" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lateral Naval Architects (Company)">Lateral Naval Architects</a>During this presentation, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5009" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Lateral Naval Architects (Company)">Lateral Naval Architects</a> explained energy transition and yacht design and helped to demystify the truth, lies and statistics around the topic. They also launched their technical platform, Free From Bulkheads (FFB) that is intended to reduce constraints and evolve modern yacht development. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/265467/image/large-48c39f6009a3f515d1c3a2d4b3cd4c51.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/265467"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2674" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="OceanLED (Company)">OceanLED</a>Director of Sales, Giles Truscott addressed the crowds about sustainable underwater lighting solutions. Giles discussed the Explore E8 and E9 lights, the first underwater lights in the world to achieve Sustainable Verification from <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5877" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Water Revolution Foundation (Company)">Water Revolution Foundation</a>. Attendees were also told the incredible journey of the angled optics onboard the 84.04-metre Echo superyacht White Rabbit.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7110" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="EODev (Company)">EoDev</a>&nbsp;(Energy Observer Developments)Yachting expert Laurent Perignon of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/7110" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="EODev (Company)">EoDev</a> spoke about the benefits, drawbacks, limits and opportunities of switching to hydrogen in yachting. His talk explored zero emissions and silent navigation, as well as mobile refilling stations, and the electrogen-hydrogen hybridisation of yachts.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2175" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hempel (Company)">Hempel</a>&nbsp;Drew Boor from international coatings producer <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2175" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hempel (Company)">Hempel</a> discussed the steps they are taking towards superyacht sustainability. The talk explained more about Hempaguard, the fuel-saving hull coating that uses silicone-hydrogel Actiguard technology with the controlled release of biocide. The company was also awarded the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5877" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Water Revolution Foundation (Company)">Water Revolution Foundation</a> Certificate at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1429" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Monaco Yacht Show (Company)">Monaco Yacht Show</a> Sustainability Hub for its antifouling coating, Hempaguard X7.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/265524/image/large-8271fcd1344e69e957096e35fc9d0237.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/265524"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2259" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Victory Design s.r.l. (Company)">Victory- Total Design</a>The team at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2259" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Victory Design s.r.l. (Company)">Victory Design</a> took the opportunity to present to the world the Bolide range, with the first yacht in the series set to be the 24.9-metre Bolide 80. The shipyard describes Bolide 80 as the first ‘Hyper Muscle Yacht’ (HMY) and is built to be a lightweight, avant-garde yacht with high-performance and unprecedented comfort onboard.<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/82" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Espen Øino International (Company)">Espen Øino International</a>Renowned designer Espen Øino of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/82" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Espen Øino International (Company)">Espen Øino International</a> took a relaxed approach with the audience to talk more about the investment into the ownership of yachts. He shared his personal insights and experiences into sustainability and design with an outlook into how we can reduce the emissions produced by superyachts.&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5877" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Water Revolution Foundation (Company)">Water Revolution Foundation</a>Director of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5877" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Water Revolution Foundation (Company)">Water Revolution Foundation</a>, Robert Van Tol explained more to attendees about the life cycle assessment that is applied to yachting. The talk highlighted the importance of design, build, operation and refit of yachts and how we can develop the tools &nbsp;that will enable builders and suppliers to make tangible differences in their collective footprint.

Monaco Yacht Show Design and Innovation Hub 2022

SYT takes a look at everything you may have missed from this year’s Yacht Design & Innovation Hub at the Monaco Yacht Show.