Bill Gates bought the world's first hydrogen-powered yacht. This is the Aqua model of the company Sinot and its engine is fuel cells.
Bill Gates ordered the first yacht powered by liquid hydrogen as the heart of his engine room has the technology fuel cells, worth about $ 644 million and has a swimming pool, helipad, spa and gym.
The billionaire co-founder of Microsoft commissioned the 112m eco-luxury yacht Aqua when he saw it last year in report Monaco yacht show, by Dutch company Sinot.
The vessel has five decks and space to accommodate 14 people and 31 crew members. It is environmentally friendly, as fuel cell technology only needs liquid hydrogen, which is “split” and then combined with oxygen of the air and saves free electrons, which is actually electricity.
Below decks are two 28-tonne tanks cooled to -253°C and filled with liquid hydrogen. The fuel enters the fuel cells, breaks down into hydrogen ions, releasing electrons, and produces electricity where it powers two motors of one megawatt each, which are responsible for propelling the craft. The residue from the process is pure, high-temperature water. This water usesfor the heating and hot water of the guest bathrooms.
The vessel is unlikely to hit the seas before 2024. But when launched it will be capable of reaching 17 knots and traveling 3.750 miles (or about London – New York) before it needs to be refueled.
As a reserve, the boat will also have a diesel engine, due to the lack of hydrogen refueling stations.
UPDATE: The news finally turned out to be false, after announcement by Sinot, which claims to have none order by Gates, and never had before. The news came from the major British news agency telegraph.co.uk and made the rounds on the internet.
We apologize.
