Hydrogen chase boats for next America’s Cup

Emirates Team New Zealand has committed to drive hydrogen innovation in the marine industry by developing hydrogen powered chase boats for the 37th America’s Cup in 2023.

The team has been working with AFCryo, a Christchurch-based innovative company in design, development and manufacture of composite cryostats for the cryogenic and superconducting industries.

Team designers are working on a prototype hydrogen powered foiling chase boat, to be built at the team’s North Shore build facility, capable of standing up to the demands of supporting an AC75 throughout the campaign.

Once launched and verified, and with the support of the Challenger of Record Ineos Team UK, it is possible that the protocol for the 37th America’s Cup will contain a provision that all teams must use hydrogen powered support boats.

This would also apply to the more than 20 event and race support boats, which will have a considerable impact on the reduction fossil fuel consumption across the event.

Elements of the hydrogen innovation will also be assessed and developed into how they can potentially be used in the functions of the next generation of AC75s also.

“Emirates Team New Zealand continues to be at the forefront of innovation and we intend to really drive the development curve of new and clean technology in the marine industry,” chief executive Grant Dalton says.  

“It is our hope that we can make a seismic shift into hydrogen power and an emission free statement for the industry. This initiative is not without risk as we have very specific operating criteria within the team and the America’s Cup, so it is not a small undertaking.”

Technical director Hugh Reynolds is leading the project for AFCryo.

“As an organisation we have been working in cryogenics, and clean-tech solutions, for 17 years,” he says.

“We are a strong proponent of green hydrogen and are manufacturing hydrogen production systems in New Zealand. It is exciting to work with Emirates Team New Zealand on such an aggressive development curve and timeline to deliver on water hydrogen storage and power.”

Ineos Team UK and Challenger of Record team principal skipper Sir Ben Ainslie backs the drive to hydrogen power on the water.

“For nearly two centuries the America’s Cup has pushed the boundaries in design and engineering, whilst ensuring innovation benefits the wider marine industry,” he says.

“With so much investment in hydrogen across the world, shifting to foiling chase boats powered by hydrogen could well prove to be a sustainable and practical solution for the future of the marine industry, while supporting the AC75s which are reaching speeds in excess of 50 knots.”

The US challenger for the 36th America’s Cup, New York Yacht Club’s American Magic skipper and executive director Terry Hutchinson says they support the Defender’s efforts to apply their skills to sustainable and environmentally friendly technology.