The impact of hydro generation on board large sailing yachts

In response to the leading narrative of increasing sustainability in the yachting sector, a research collaboration is started between the Delft University of Technology and Dykstra Naval Architects (DNA) to examine the potential use of hydro generation on board large sailing yachts. By harvesting energy from the water flow when a yacht is sailing, diesel generator use can be limited, reducing overall emissions. However, it is a challenge to quickly identify the impact of a chosen hydro generation system on the overall design during the early stages of yacht design. A design method, with a primary focus on the propeller, is therefore developed to quantify this impact. This allows the designer to explore various hydro generation systems in an early design stage. This paper describes the developed method and presents results from a case study to provide insight into the applicability of the method.