DRIFT - SailGP Foiling boat performance shot.png

Sail power to X

Net positive ships

A timely remix of a millennia old technology, a new pathway to renewable energy. Like a free-range wind farm with planet scale impact.

Generation

Modern, high-performance sailing vessels cruise around the world’s tradewinds harvesting energy from underwater turbines.

Storage

Energy feeds an on-board Megawatt class electrolyser to produce and store Gigawatts of green hydrogen.

Distribution

Artificial Intelligence routing algorithms keep the yachts in the optimum weather conditions ready to deliver to port.

The Hardware

The Software

The Goldilocks Algorithm

DRIFT has developed a unique vessel routing algorithm that enables the yacht to find and stay in optimum weather conditions, returning to port at the precise moment that its hydrogen tank is full.

The Flotilla

  • DRIFT operates the flotilla across the world’s tradewinds in what is called a Hydroloop, allowing vessels to harvest and deliver flexibly to ports.

  • DRIFT vessels store their hydrogen payload in standard 40ft ISO containers, ready to be lifted ashore. Alternatively, the hydrogen can be pumped to the quayside.

  • DRIFT vessels can directly bunker other vessels in port or at anchor. Future capability will also allow Refuelling At Sea (RAS).

  • A vast flotilla enables huge quantities of green hydrogen to be aggregated and traded across the globe.

The Demonstrator

“The team at DRIFT with their hydrogen foiling boats,

that’s an example of innovation that

can have a massive impact.”

Sir Ben Ainslie - Olympic, SailGP and Americas Cup Sailor