Feadship has announced the delivery of the 84.2-metre superyacht Obsidian. Also known as Feadship 710, Obsidian is the first of Feadship’s new generation of large yachts aimed at further reducing carbon emissions. 
Obsidian features an optimised hull that takes into consideration carbon reduction through hulls optimised at cruising speed instead of top speed, weight control, advancements in electric propulsion, and the ability to run her generators on the non-fossil diesel fuel, HVO.
Obsidian features exterior design, interior architecture and design by RWD, in collaboration with Monk Design and naval architecture from De Voogt Naval Architects. The brief was to create a superyacht that was more energy efficient and emitted less carbon than Feadship’s ground-breaking hybrid yacht, Savannah. 
Obsidian showcases a low and slim hull design which has been optimised for cruising speed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The louvered aft deck overhangs are all made from carbon-fibre and attached to the aluminium superstructure without the need for supports, therefore reducing her overall weight.
Feadship worked with Bram Jongepier, Senior Designer at FeadshipDe Voogt Naval Architects, and used the Yacht Environmental Transparency Index (YETI) for guidance on how the yacht’s components and operations contribute to its carbon profile and environmental impact. This led to a Joint Industry Project (JIP) under the flag of the Water Revolution Foundation, with twenty major partners in the yachting industry.
Read: Water Revolution Foundation unveils YETI 1.0 to evaluate environmental impact in yachting
Feadship is working towards creating carbon-neutral superyachts by 2030 and the delivery of Obsidian marks a key milestone in this timeline. It is estimated that Obsidian will operate with 27 percent less total environmental impact than a yacht of similar size launched only five years ago if run on fossil fuel, and 60 percent less when using HVO.
Obsidian uses Feadship’s Advanced Electrical Drive (FAED) program for diesel-electric hybrid power. She has 4.5 times more electrical storage capacity than the hybrid yacht Savannah, and she has no drive shafts and no rudders, preventing added drag caused by these appendages.
In terms of propulsion, Obsidian uses a pair of Veth contra-rotating thrusters to maximise efficiency and minimise vibration. She is powered by a 4.5 MWh battery bank that is charged by four generators and features a staggering 1,000-volt system because the yacht is fully powered by electricity.
Her thrusters are located in the best location for steering and water flow, while the generators and their exhaust systems, batteries, and electrical switchboard are located elsewhere for optimal weight distribution and crew access.
Read: In Pictures: 84m Feadship superyacht Obsidian on sea trials
As a result of this, Obsidian can comfortably cruise at 35 nautical miles at 10 knots on just her batteries alone. At anchor, the batteries will also provide silent operation for 10-15 hours.
When analysing Obsidian using the YETI tool, it revealed that about 60 percent of the energy consumed goes simply to powering the onboard lifestyle. Several major innovations were adapted for Obsidian allowing the team to address these issues through peak load shaving and reducing HVAC demand. 
Obsidian uses waste heat captured from the generators, but also from the AC chillers as carbon-free energy. “There are so many points of energy savings integrated on this yacht that it is hard to count,” said Project Manager Mark Jansen.
Feadship’s engineers introduced an innovative heat pump system to pull heat from various sources, including ambient sea water. This transports thermal energy (heat) from one place to another and according to Jongepier, it is five times more efficient than simply making heat with a regular electrical heating coil. She also features a single level engine room. 
The interior layout of Obsidian has been optimised, with a total of seven staterooms. She features an asymmetrical atrium staircase, which leads to a lower deck dining saloon, with an entire wall that opens to provide a terrace view that is just 75cm above sea level.
None of the interior rooms, except her staterooms, have any 90-degree angles. A hidden staircase to a study and a sunken lounge on the main deck are just two more of the unexpected interior elements.
Near her stern is an 'Aqua Lounge' with large windows below water level. The Aqua Lounge can also function as a cinema and even a classroom. In place of a mooring deck, there is a revelatory bow observation lounge with double-curved glass floor-to-ceiling windows.
Both of Obsidian's tenders are electric-powered and custom made by Tenderworks. Four fast charging stations installed by the yard will allow them to be charged in the water or in the tender garage.