High-performance Green Hydrogen Production At Sea With The Help Of AI

DRIFT Energy to use deep ocean winds to generate green H2.

DRIFT Energy, a UK-based startup, has big plans to build a fleet of sophisticated sailing yachts capable of harnessing deep ocean winds to generate green hydrogen at sea. The sea vessels are the world’s first foiling boats to produce and store green H2 gas by sailing and capturing these winds using underwater turbines.

The tech behind DRIFT Energy’s advanced yachts.

DRIFT Energy’s high-performance sailing vessels will harvest energy from underwater turbines by sailing around the world’s tradewinds in what the call a “Hydroloop”. The energy generated is fed to a megawatt (MW) class electrolyzer located on board to generate and store gigawatts (GWs) of green hydrogen. This enables the flotilla operating across the global tradewinds to harvest energy and flexibly deliver it to ports.

The hydrogen payload in the DRIFT vessels is stored in standard 40ft. ISO containers. The stored hydrogen is ready to be transported ashore and can be lifted out of the vessel or pumped to the quayside.

Additionally, the foiling boats will be able to directly bunker with other vessels at anchor or in port. The company is also working on making their boats capable of refueling at sea.

AI improves green hydrogen production efficiency.

One of the most interesting aspects of the DRIFT vessels is that they are equipped with an innovative routing algorithm. This allows the yacht to locate and remain in optimum weather conditions. Via the AI tech, the boat also knows to return to port at the exact moment its hydrogen tank is full.

According to a company case study involving one of the vessels made by DRIFT Energy, using the AI routing algorithm, the yacht showed it was capable of achieving 25 knots (28.8 miles per hour). As the vessel’s speed increased, an underwater propeller drove a turbine, generating electricity. This power was then used by the onboard electrolyzer for extracting hydrogen from water.

The case study reports that the first trial of the foiling boat took place off the coast of Brightlingsea, Essex. By the end of the trial, the boat produced six liters of green hydrogen in a single two-hour test run and became the first in the world to generate and store H2 at sea.

Seed funding round complete.

Recently, DRIFT Energy announced its seed funding round had closed. In this round of funding, led by Octopus Ventures, the company raised £4.65 million ($6.02 million). Additionally, DRIFT has received funding from Innovate UK.

The company says that the money raised from the seed funding round will boost its vessel design program among other benefits. The first keel laying is planned for 2025.