The words ‘environmentally-friendly’ and ‘superyachts’ are typically not normally associated, until the birth of the magnificent luxury Ocean Empire LSV that is. Green in colour, this futuristic-looking superyacht runs on sustainable energy generated by the sun, wind and the waves, and in doing so aims to slash the amount of carbon emissions, its non-environmentally-friendly fellow super vessels leek into the atmosphere by almost 50 percent. 

The 44-metre hybrid yacht contains a 400-square metre, 70 kilowatt solar farm which powers two hydroponic farms, the boat’s main source of power. Whilst an 80 square metre, 200 kilowatt automated SkySail utilizes the power from the wind to charge the yacht’s battery system and push this prized possession of the sea to its optimum speed – 18+ knots. Its tertiary power source comes from the waves, a Motion Damping Regeneration (MDR), similar technology to that employed to prevent skyscrapers from swaying.

So who is designing such an environmentally dynamic, entirely sustainable, superyacht? The Ocean Empire LSV is being designed by the British designer Richard Sauter of Sauter Zero Carbon Design. Yachts have long been synonymous with being gas guzzling, CO2 leaching beasts, whose affluent and powerful owner’s possess huge carbon footprints. Sauter wants to reverse this popular perception of superyachts and their owners by creating a mega yacht which is powered entirely by renewable sources. Talking about his creation, the designer stated:

“The Ocean Empire LSV leads the way in freeing the superyacht community from its strict dependence on unsustainable resources by being the first to harness the renewable collective resources ever present in the earth’s biosphere.”  

Although the Ocean Empire may be an exciting new prospect in the world of sustainable energy and superyachts, carbon neutral luxury yachts are not an entirely new phenomenon. The Super Nova 60, also designed by Sauter Carbon Offset Design, uses photovoltaic cells and kinetic energy sails to cruise the seven seas carbon neutrally. Novague Studio has invented an eco-friendly concept yacht, whereby solar panels spread out like the wings of a bird and absorb solar energy for power.

Increasingly adopting carbon neutral alternatives and more eco-friendly lifestyles is becoming a luxury privilege of the wealthy. Given this fashionable drive towards more ‘greener’ options, we are likely to see, in the very near future, beautiful vessels like the Ocean Empire LSV gliding through the waves, safe in the knowledge it is doing the environment no harm.