R oyal Huisman introduces AERA, a 50m / 164ft hybrid superyacht that seamlessly fuses wind, water, hydrogen, and hydrogeneration into one revolutionary design. By blurring the boundaries between power and sail, AERA sets a new standard for sustainable luxury and technical innovation at sea.
Royal Huisman, the innovative Dutch shipyard behind the world’s first hybrid superyacht, now unveils AERA – a bold departure from traditional yachts. She transforms how luxury vessels use wind and water, fuel cells, and biodiesel to cruise nearly carbon free and to anchor with zero emissions for up to 72 hours.
The result of a multi-year R&D investment by Royal Huisman, sister company Rondal, Artemis Technologies, and Cor D. Rover Design, concept AERA pairs top research into wind-assisted propulsion, hydro-generator advances, a unique energy storage system, and a super-efficient, head-turning design. The result is a yacht that sails and motor sails with levels of efficiency, stability, ease of operation and comfort never before achieved.
Game-changing wing
At AERA’s core is a towering 35m / 115ft Wing Sail that enables the yacht to go from stationary to sailing in as little as a minute. This groundbreaking 245m2 / 2,640sqft unstayed wing, inspired by America’s Cup yachts, rotates 360 degrees and requires no sheets, winches, or deck hardware.
Automation is the key. The captain enters the destination or direction, and perhaps a desired speed or arrival time as well. The computerized control system handles all wing adjustments for the desired speed and conditions, adding a boost from retractable electric sail drive units if motor sailing is the best option
The dramatic-looking unstayed wing uses airfoil technology with adjustable trailing-edge flaps that automatically optimize performance or completely depower by feathering into the wind. Extensive testing on a prototype confirmed the wing’s ability to safely handle extreme weather conditions while providing dramatically superior efficiency – calculations show a traditional sailing rig would need 40 to 60% more area to match this wing’s power.
Zero-emission innovation
AERA steps up Royal Huisman’s environmental mission with multiple clean energy systems. A 580kWh battery bank can power the yacht’s entire hotel load silently for 11 hours. Escaping the weight and bulk of multi-megawatt systems aboard some next-gen superyachts, Rondal’s latest hydro-generators constantly and silently charge this battery bank underway. When stationary and away from a marina, batteries can be topped up by a hydrogen fuel cell.
Three 62kg / 137lbs pressurized hydrogen bottles powering the fuel cell can create enough electricity for an additional 72 hours of zero-emission operation. When motoring or motorsailing, generators running on HVO (89% less carbon emissions than diesel) power the yacht’s DC electrical grid and her retractable 500kW azimuthing electric drive units – the same award-winning technology created for Royal Huisman’s 60m / 196ft SARISSA, charging batteries simultaneously.
Through a combination of design and technology features, we expect AERA to offer owners the ability to enjoy the superyacht lifestyle with less environmental impact than comparable 10-passenger yachts.
Visionary design
Cor D. Rover designed AERA’s bold asymmetrical profile atop twin hulls as the perfect complement to the Wing Sail. It provides an impressive 694m2 / 7,470sqft of exterior deck space for up to 10 guests in a spectacular main deck primary suite and four cabins below yet stays below 500GT.
Three deck levels – unheard of in sailing yachts – create unique experiential living spaces while reducing HVAC needs through smart shading. By uncoupling the walls of interior rooms from the superstructure, he reveals a uniquely fresh flow of spaces and the ultimate in relaxed, indoor/outdoor living.
Simplified operation
CEO Jan Timmerman emphasizes AERA’s ease of use to be able to sail with confidence: “AERA represents more than technological advancement — it’s a complete redesign of sustainable luxury yachting that makes clean cruising irresistibly attractive to owners seeking both environmental responsibility and comfort.”
