Sauter designs self-sufficient Life Support Superyacht

by Jeni Bone on 11 Jan 2011 With its fish farms and solar power, the Ocean Empire life support Superyacht, designed by Richard Sauter, is the world's first totally self sufficient Zero Carbon Life Support Vessel (LSV).

The Ocean Empire LSV (life support vessel) is a 44m Solar Hybrid Superyacht with 2 Hydroponic farms and fishing facilities to harvest the sea. Her solar powered propulsion systems and all the Hotel amenities of a luxury global voyager are supplied by harnessing 3 major sources of sustainable of energy.

The first and foremost source of energy is from the Sun which powers Solar Cells (covering the entire surface of the vessel) while at the same time illuminating 2 Hydroponic farms.

The second source is energy from the Wind which powers an auxiliary automated SkySail that drives the Ocean Empire to 18+knots while charging her GM ESS2 batteries through power sailing KER.

The third source is energy from Waves captured through Motion Damping Regeneration (MDR). A new form of ATMD (Adjustable Tuned Mass Damper) developed in collaboration with Maurer Sohnes Gmbh

The MDR system is basically an ATMD utilized in skyscrapers such as Taipei 101 to reduce their swaying motion. In this application 16 tons of batteries are the Mass while linear generators produce up to 50 kws of electricity as they dampen the motion of the vessel.

Richard Sauter head of design at Sauter Carbon Offset Design said the concept aims to 'liberate the Superyacht community from its strict dependence on unsustainable resources by harnessing the renewable collective power ever present in the Earths Biosphere'.

'To my way of thinking a Life Support Vessel (Superyacht) points to our present ability to harness the renewable resources we need, not just to sustain life, but to enjoy it to the fullest,' he explained. 'The two hydroponic farms in each bow cover about 30 square meters. They are intended for the most part to supply fresh vegetables and some fruit to balance a diet of fish caught from trawling lines as opposed to nets. Surplus fish is preserved, stored and either eaten or traded at a later date.'

Additional well ventilated space exists in the demi-hull for pens or tanks if more variety is desired. In total the growing, fishing and storage facilities are enough to sustain 18 passengers indefinitely.

The Ocean Empire LSV is a state of the art Superyacht catamaran. As such her Green Tech innovations are able to optimize what is easily the most dynamic form of ocean going platform. Her Daimler Turbo Compound BueTec engine is the most advanced EPA Diesel ever built. Her Sunpower Solar Cells are the most efficient to date as are her Voith Surface Drives.

Employing existing OEM products and costing little more than her conventional Superyacht counterparts. Ocean Empire’s Solar Hybrid design offers every available Superyacht luxury within her full range of operation which extends from a 50% reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions to Ultra Green Carbon Neutral and Zero Carbon cruising.

As a Charter, a Plugged in Ocean Empire LSV is capable of feeding 360+Mwh’s of electricity to the grid. Enough energy to make up to 12,000 nautical miles of Chartered Carbon Neutral voyages every year.

Said Sauter: 'The Ocean Empire LSV targets those attracted to the reality of an independent state of being. The way things are looking, I’m expecting the demand for this 'reality' to take off in the near future.'


Existing OEM technology present in the Ocean Empire LSV:

· Daimler Turbo Compound DD16 Electric Power Generation

· SkySail Automated Traction Kite

· SunPower Solar Cells

· GM Allison Electronic Controller (KER) (Kinetic energy regeneration)·

· Maurer Sohnes Gmbh Motion Damping Regeneration. (MDR)

· Voith Turbo Advanced Propulsion Surface Drives

· Carbon Composite Wave Piercing Hi-efficiency displacement hulls

· Advanced Aerodynamic Radar Canopy with PV Wing Spoilers

· Energy Efficient Equipment, AC & Refrigeration with Waste Heat Recovery

· Plug-in Computerized Energy Management, Maintenance & Guidance.

· GM Allison ESS2 Battery Storage UPS rated at 2,000Kwh.


More at www.SauterCarbonOffsetDesign.com