WORLD’S FIRST FOSSIL-FUEL FREE YACHT, PROJECT ZERO NEARS COMPLETION
Vripack Yacht Design, together with Vitters Shipyard, are delighted to announce that SY Zero, the world’s first sailing superyacht designed to operate without fossil fuels, is entering the final stages of construction with the launch currently expected at the end of 2025. The near 70 metre yacht is the result of more than 60,000 hours of research and development and represents a groundbreaking moment for sustainable yacht design.
The project team of Vripack, Vitters and Dykstra Naval Architects, with additional support by a diverse non-marine team, has sought first-of-a-kind solutions to create a sailing superyacht that is powered purely by wind, solar and thermal energy, while still retaining the qualities and performance of a traditional superyacht. The project aims to showcase how it is possible to eliminate fossil fuel dependency, and all system data, technical insights and key systems designs will be made freely available through the FoundationZero.org platform. This will provide designers, engineers, and researchers with open access to technical advancements, with the aim of encouraging others to utilise the sustainable technologies.
On board, every system from propulsion, lighting, hotel load, and utilities that is fully electric, is powered by a five megawatt-hour energy storage system. This capacity is equivalent to that of 88 Tesla vehicles, offering complete energy independence without reliance on diesel or generators. All power is supplied entirely by renewable sources. Under sail, energy is collected from water flow using hydro-generating thrusters. A 100-square-metre array of hybrid solar panels captures both light and heat with 60% efficiency, while a wind turbine supplements energy collection by harnessing offshore airflow.
“This project has always been about showing what’s possible,” says Marnix Hoekstra, co-creative director of Vripack. “We wanted to demonstrate that comfort, design, and performance can coexist with fossil-free operation. The project has been driven by data, testing, and a long-term commitment to sustainable naval design. Our goal wasn’t just to prove that a fossil-free superyacht is viable—it was to create a real-world model others can learn from.”
Construction has been led by Vitters, a Dutch builder renowned for its high-performance custom sailing yachts. “From the outset, this has been about building a yacht that reflects a future we all recognise is coming,” says Louis Hamming from Vitters. “It’s a privilege to help bring that future into reality.”
The yacht’s interior can accommodate up to 12 guests and has the feel and quality of craftmanship that one would expect from a superyacht. A huge amount of attention has been paid to utilising sustainable materials including leather made from pineskin and leathered marble, which celebrates the stone’s faults rather than removing them. Each cabin is inspired by a destination and Vripack has worked with local artisans to create bespoke artworks that are reflective of each
Following Zero’s technical launch, the teams will then begin the process of starting her advanced systems and stepping the masts. She will then undergo extensive sea trials to test the yacht’s new technology and the sophisticated suite of software that will manage every aspect of Zero’s performance. It is expected that Zero will be delivered in 2026, more than seven years since the initial idea was conceived.
“The project isn’t about showing how good we are, nor even specifically about the yacht itself,” says Eduard van Benthem, Executive Director at Foundation Zero and an experienced technical project and engineering manager in the yachting industry. “We are really trying to showcase how we can do things better and inspire others to join us on the journey, to learn together and to share the knowledge, which is the fundamental aim of Foundation Zero in all its projects.”
In addition to private use and select charter – which will give clients the chance to see her technologies in action for themselves – Zero will serve as a platform for scientific research at sea, supporting studies on renewable marine technologies and ocean sustainability.
