Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Science

Solar Boat Team switches to hydrogen

The TU Delft Solar Boat Team is due for a name change. The electrically powered trimaran gets its energy from hydrogen instead of solar cells.

The Hydro Motion gets its energy from a 30 kW hydrogen fuel cell. (Illustration: Delft Solar Boat Team)

The new name has therefore become ‘Hydro Motion’, with a 30 kilowatt fuel cell as the powerhouse for the electric drive. The trimaran’s three floats are fitted with hydrofoils that lift the boat out of the water when it reaches sufficient speed. With a weight of 1,000 kg, the students calculated the take-off speed to be 22 km/hour.

Bouwe Theijse and Simone Vis doing the design presentation. (Photo: Delft Solar Boat Team)

Team Manager Simone Vis and Project Manager Bouwe Theijse ran the Solar Boat Team’s design presentation from the TU Delft auditorium via video streaming, of course. Vis explained the switch to hydrogen. “Changes give us the opportunity to develop ourselves and to push boundaries. That is why we, the TU Delft Solar Boat Team, take up the challenge of change to move towards a green future.”

Now that the design is finished, the construction will follow and then the tests. This summer, the team wants to compete in Open Sea Class races in Monaco. The race will take place on the open sea, so the boat has to be able to withstand large waves. But it must also be light enough to rise out of the water on its hydrofoils. Finding the balance between these and many other conflicting requirements is the challenge for the coming months.

Science editor Jos Wassink

Do you have a question or comment about this article?

j.w.wassink@tudelft.nl

Comments are closed.