ABB has become electrification partner to Ferrari Hypersail, supporting the 100-foot renewable-energy foiling monohull with expertise in marine power, direct current technology, energy storage and advanced electrical systems.
Ferrari Hypersail is being developed as a full-foiling ocean yacht designed to operate entirely on renewable energy.
ABB says the project gives it a high-performance environment in which to demonstrate how DC architectures, intelligent energy management and resilient electrical systems can operate under extreme offshore conditions.
ABB brings more than 25 years’ experience in DC technology and a portfolio of more than 700 patents in the field. Its work on Ferrari Hypersail will cover DC system integration, real-time monitoring, intelligent power distribution and resilience at sea.
Ferrari Hypersail’s electrical architecture will operate as a self-sufficient microgrid, with systems at 48V and 800 VDC generating, storing and managing power for navigation, foil controls, safety systems and propulsion.
Efficient power systems
ABB says the demands of balancing generation, storage, monitoring and distribution in real time are directly relevant to next-generation industrial microgrids.
“Ferrari Hypersail gives ABB a unique platform to demonstrate how we are collaborating with partners to push the limits of direct current technology,” said Giampiero Frisio, president of ABB’s electrification business area.
He said the lessons from the project could help advance resilient and efficient power systems for customers across marine, renewables, data centres and industrial microgrids.
Enrico Voltolini, project leader of Ferrari Hypersail, said the boat must be self-sufficient for weeks in hostile ocean environments.
“Having ABB’s electrification expertise connected to the project is a valuable operational advantage,” he said.
Insights from the partnership are expected to inform ABB’s development of advanced electrical systems for industries including shipping, renewable energy infrastructure, data centres and industrial power networks.
