Bill Gates Bought A Luxurious ₹4600 Crore Superyacht ‘Aqua’ That Runs On Liquid Hydrogen

The rich and the famous often buy luxury items that come at a cost to the environment. However, Bill Gates‘ newest purchase strikes the right balance between opulence and sustainability reflecting his second-richest man in the world status as well as philanthropic endeavours through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

According to The Guardian, the co-founder of Microsoft is buying ‘Aqua’, the world’s first liquid hydrogen-powered superyacht worth $644 million (Rs.4600 crore) designed by the Dutch design firm Sinot.

Forbes reports that the 376-foot-long liner that can accommodate 14 guests and 31 crew members has five decks, an infinity pool, helipad, spa, yoga studio, beauty room, massage parlour, and gym. The most interesting feature is the use of alternative fuels which makes the ship carbon-emission free. Designer Sander Sinot was quoted saying,

“With every project, I challenge my team and myself to surpass ourselves. For the development of AQUA we took inspiration from the lifestyle of a discerning, forward-looking owner, the fluid versatility of water and cutting-edge technology to combine this in a 376-foot) superyacht with a fully operational liquid hydrogen and fuel cell system that features groundbreaking in technology, as well as design and aesthetics.”

According to Hindustan Times, the electricity used to power the motors and propellors is generated by liquid hydrogen cooled and stored in vacuum-sealed tanks. Essentially, the hydrogen combines with oxygen to power a battery and the only byproduct is water i.e. zero carbon footprint.

The ship which has the potential to cover the distance between London and New York without refueling is expected to make its debut in 2024 and have diesel back-up. It definitely is cutting-edge in terms of design and features, don’t you think?

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