Bill Gates bought the world's first hydrogen-powered yacht. This is her Aqua model companySinot's and his engine are 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 cofounder of Microsoft, ordered the 112m eco-luxury yacht, Aqua, when he saw it last year at the Monaco yacht show, from Dutch company Sinot.
The boat 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 "breaks down" and then combines with oxygen in the air and saves free electrons, which is actually electricity.
Below decks there are two 28 ton tanks cooled to -253 ºC 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 is used for heating and hot water for guest bathrooms.
The ship is unlikely to sail the seas before 2024. But when launched it will be able to reach 17 knots and travel 3.750 miles (or about London - New York) before it needs to be refueled.
As a backup, the boat will also have an engine diesel, due to the lack of stations ifsupply with hydrogen.
UPDATE: The news finally turned out to be false, after announcement by Sinot, who claims to have no orders from Gates, and has never had one before. The news came from the great British news agency telegraph.co.uk and made the rounds of the internet.
We apologize.