The TU Delft Hydro Motion Team has completed the races at Monaco with their student-built foiling liquid hydrogen-powered boat. They have come in second in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge (MEBC) 2025 SeaLab Class.
In December 2024, the Hydro Motion Team revealed their boat design for this year. The boat measures 7.25 x 2.20 metres, has three adjustable hydrofoils and is liquid hydrogen-powered. It has a 40-kW fuel cell installed and carries 8 kg of liquid hydrogen. The boat reaches a cruising speed of 40 km per hour.
As the boat sails on hydrofoils, lifting the hull completely from the water, the boat had to be as light as possible. That is why the hull is made from carbon fibre. For the hull, the V-shape has been chosen for its good allround performance. The boat’s sharp bow cuts through waves efficiently. A chine has been added to assist in lifting the boat out of the water.
Also read: VIDEO: TU Delft Hydro Motion Team reveals liquid-hydrogen boat
Liquid hydrogen
For the first time, the student team developed a boat to sail on liquid hyfrogen (compared to compressed hydrogen gas last year). They did this because liquid hydrogen is three times as energy dense as compressed hydrogen gas and it doesn’t require high pressure. This significantly reduces the required storage volume allowing for more efficient use of space.
To store it in its liquid form at -253°C, a custom cryogenic tank has been developed with multi-layer insulation and double walls with a vacuum in between. This limits heat transfer to just 7 W as the boat cannot provide active cooling.
The liquid hydrogen enters the fuel cell in the same form as the hydrogen gas from the gas tank. This means it has to be heated up from -253°C to 20°C. This is energy-consuming. Therefore, it has been decided to combine the cooling loop from the fuel cell with the heating loop of the liquid hydrogen. Using the fuel cell’s waste heat to heat up the liquid hydrogen.
Batteries and electric motor
The boat is also fitted with batteries, which the team calls its buffer. It is made up of over 200 lithium ion phosphate cells. It charges or discharges as needed to adapt to changing power demands, while the fuel cell provides a steady stream of electricity.
An electric motor is connected to a drive shaft, which runs throught the rear strut. This mechanical energy is then transferred to a propeller by two baffle gears. The propeller is placed at the front of the rear strut to improve efficiency due to the flow over the rear foil. It is also placed at the very bottom of the strut to ensure it stays submerged, even when foiling.
Also read: TU Delft strengthens innovation at Alewijnse
Three challenges
The boat has been designed to compete in the three challenges of the Monaco Sea Lab. The first is a high-speed challenge in 1-km race. This requires a high top speed and fast acceleration. The second is the manoeuvrability challenge in Monaco’s port and involves navigating a low-speed course with tight turns, mooring and casting off, making precision and control essential. The last one is the endurance challenge, requiring long-distance sailing. For this challenge, the boat needs to sail as much distance as possible within four hours.
In the end, the team ended in second place in the speed challenge, took third place in the manoeuvrability challenge and won the endurance challenge. This resulted in second place overall. Watch a video of the Endurance challenge here:
‘We are incredibly proud of everything we’ve accomplished this year,’ says the team in their newsletter. ‘Not just with our boat, Mira, but as a team. Each one of us poured our heart into this project, and we kept our team spirit strong through both the toughest challenges and the greatest triumphs. We owe this success to our amazing partners, thank you for believing in our mission and helping us prove that hydrogen-powered boats are the future of sustainable maritime transport.’
Also read: TU Delft Hydro Motion Team crosses North Sea with hydrogen boat
SeaLab Class
The SeaLab Class is the master class of the MEBC and challenges participants in naval architecture as they design and build cutting-edge boats. This class drives teams to develop efficient and alternative propulsion systems, fostering innovation in the maritime and yachting industries while promoting sustainable boating practices and shaping the future of the sector. This class also provides room for AI-based developments.
Picture: The TU Delft Hydro Motion Team in the 16 NM speed challenge (photo by TU Delft Hydro Motion Team).
