Wallenius Marine, a pioneer in car carriers, is pursuing its first commercial use of wind-assisted propulsion with a scheduled 2027 retrofit of the te...

Ok the fact that this tech is being used to shovel piles of new cars around is not that solarpunk, but the technology itself certainly is.

  • idiomaddict@lemmy.world
    5·
    9 hours ago

    As of 2018 when designed, it was expected that Black Pearl could cross the Atlantic using only 20 litres (4.4 imp gal; 5.3 US gal) of fuel, aided by regenerative technologies.[8][needs update] One key technology to support this is to use the speed of the vessel through the water under sail to generate electricity with a variable pitch propeller.[8] The yacht also features heat capture technologies and large scale storage batteries to capture energy generated but not immediately used.

    Holy shit that is cool (and equally concerning and inspiring).

    Under sea trials, Black Pearl achieved 20 knots of speed on the water, and its developers expected as of 2018 that it might one day be able to transit the Atlantic using no fuel.[8] In its first crossing, 5,600 nm from Montenegro to St. Barths in 2023, Black Pearl sailed approximately 80% of the distance and consumed 32,000 liters of fuel.

    Well, that’s disappointing.

    A traditional similar-sized yacht would have consumed 200,000 liters for the same passage.[19]

    Oh, I guess it’s still a huge improvement, but what the fuck.

    Also, how does it only have a capacity of 12? Does it only have sleeping capacity for 12 or can it somehow really not hold more people than that while on the water at over 100m in length?

    • Captain Aggravated@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      2·
      4 hours ago

      Is that twelve occupants, or twelve passengers? Does that figure include the crew?

      The ship has masts and square rigged sails on yards, but no stays. She’s got no jibs, staysails or spanker. A lot of potential sail power has been left behind.

    • MrMakabar@slrpnk.netEnglish
      3·
      9 hours ago

      Also, how does it only have a capacity of 12?

      It is a floating palace and the family is probably no larger then 12. There will be a lot of crew on board. Also everything else you would expect on a place like Epstein Island.

      As for the fuel, this could probably be done using batteries nowadays. Those have gotten pretty light.