Local ZERO: Keeping it Local (Cleanly)

This article has been written for SuperYacht Times by James Roy, Managing Director of Lateral Naval Architects.  

Across many of the world’s cities the introduction of Low Emission Zones (LEZ) are being implemented in an effort to improve air quality. For vehicles that do not meet the LEZ emissions standards – perhaps those utilising older technology – daily charges and fines are applicable to deter vehicles from entering, this in turn is accelerating the adoption of cleaner vehicles employing newer technology. Some cities are now investigating the transition from LEZ, to ZEZ (Zero Emission Zones). Oxford in the UK, as an example, will begin trials of a ZEZ in early 2022.

There are parallels within the marine environment too. The adoption of Emission Control Areas (ECA’s) via the MARPOL Convention and the banning of carbon emitting vessels in the Norwegian Fjords from 2026 are two examples of local emission control in the marine environment that we are already having to comply with.In many regards yachting presents an easy escape from traffic, congestion and the associated pollution, but as yachts seek out ever more remote and untouched areas there is a desire to do so in a “leave no trace” manner, driven by a sense of responsibility rather than the ‘force’ of a regulatory pressure.

We have seen in the automotive world how the use of battery electric hybrid vehicles enables operation in dual modes; emission free in crowded urban or sensitive environments, yet still able to have extensive range and autonomy. When used with battery charging from low carbon energy, the overall operational carbon footprint is also improved. Photo: PininfarinaThe quest for zero-emission operation is ultimately simpler to achieve in cars. The transition from older to newer vehicles will happen at a significantly faster rate than an update to the world's superyacht fleet, the tolerance for obsolesce is ultimately far greater.

Achieving ‘Ultimate ZERO’ is a journey that will follow an energy transition. That transition is akin to a spectrum, with Ultimate ZERO at one end, and a range of intermediate solutions on the way. Lateral Naval Architects has explored the far end of that spectrum via the development of project Aqua in 2019, a design based on 100 percent liquefied hydrogen. The delivery of such a yacht, authentically autonomous on green hydrogen, is unfortunately tied closely to the development of a refuelling infrastructure, and therefore constrained by energy transition in a much wider context.Photo: PininfarinaHowever we need not wait for the goal of Ultimate ZERO. Considering the tightening regulatory framework on local emissions, could we foresee, for example, popular ports and cruising areas becoming Low Emission Zones, or even Zero Emission Zones? It is perhaps unlikely in the short term, but certainly not unimaginable. We cannot be complacent, because the lifespan of the average superyacht far, far outweighs that of an automotive vehicle, and as a result is far more vulnerable to obsolescence.

This can be a serious concern for anyone committing to build a yacht today, how can they be assured of avoiding obsolescence, whilst making the right choices that deliver on their sense of responsibility? Taking these aspects into consideration, Lateral has been exploring the more near-term part of the energy transition spectrum, and via an electric hybrid design; the idea of ‘Local ZERO’.The Lateral e-Hybrid system incorporates batteries as the primary means of energy delivery, permitting the varying power demands of hotel, propulsion and manoeuvring loads to be seamlessly met. Diesel generators are provided for battery charging, selected free from the constraints of a conventional diesel electric and purely on the basis of efficiency and energy density.The e-Hybrid architecture permits extensive operation with no noise, lower vibrations and critically, zero local emissions. When correctly configured against a real-world operating profile such an architecture goes beyond the capabilities of a traditional ‘silent running’ system, and delivers a truly meaningful operating profile.

As demonstrated on the 88-metre concept Kairos that Lateral engineered in collaboration with Oceanco and design studio Pininfarina, and which was launched at the Monaco Yacht Show this year. Kairos’ system enables 75 percent of a day on board to be spent in zero emission and silent operating mode.

The idea of Local ZERO is not a catch all for the avoidance of obsolesce, but is a key part of Lateral’s future proofing strategy.Photo: PininfarinaIt is also of interest that the pursuit of ZERO, be that local or ultimate, via such technologies delivers other benefits. The configuration, arrangement and flexibility in layout, fewer cylinders on board, reduced exhaust and intake trunks and their configuration, allow the design community to step outside of layouts that have become de facto, and deliver a next generation of onboard experience; engineering enabling more creative design.

All of the renderings used of Kairos in this article were created by the design team at Pininfarina.