sanlorenzo’s 50steel superyacht with interiors by piero lissoni arrives at monaco yacht show

in a nutshell, the superyacht’s reformer fuel cell system transforms green methanol into hydrogen first then into electricity that powers the vessel.

matthew burgos September 24, 2024 6 min

Sanlorenzo’s hydrogen-run 50steel at monaco yacht show 2024

First introduced in May 2024, Sanlorenzo brings its hydrogen-powered 50Steel superyacht with interiors designed by Piero Lissoni to the Monaco Yacht Show 2024. It makes its way to Port Hercule for the international boat show together with the open-coupe SP110, after it docked at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2024 between September 10th and 15th, 2024. Gracing the Monaco port, the 50Steel yacht is set to stay there from September 25th to 28th.

The superyacht’s striking feature isn’t just the five staggered decks of the exterior designed by Zuccon International Project Studio and the hospitality-inspired interiors of Piero Lissoni. It’s also the fact that it’s dubbed the world’s first superyacht to apply the Reformer Fuel Cell system, a patented technology that the shipbuilder co-developed with Siemens Energy, which uses green methanol to generate the electricity that powers the entire vessel.

sanlorenzo superyacht piero lissoni — all images courtesy of Lissoni&Partners and Sanlorenzo | interior photos by Guillaume Plisson and Gionata Xerra, with styling by vandersandestudio

Reformer Fuel Cell system turns green methanol into hydrogen

In a nutshell, Sanlorenzo’s 50Steel superyacht’s Reformer Fuel Cell system with Siemens Energy transforms green methanol into hydrogen, then turns this hydrogen into electricity that powers the vessel. Usually, hydrogen needs to be stored, but in this yacht, designed with a steel hull and aluminum superstructure by Zuccon International Project Studio, the fuel-cell system creates hydrogen from green methanol on demand.

This means it generates it when it’s needed, so there’s no need to store it onboard. The Reformer Fuel Cell system supplies the electrical power for the superyacht’s hotel-like systems, such as the lights and air conditioning, without the need to use traditional fuel like diesel. For Piero Lissoni, who worked on the interiors of the 50Steel superyacht, this may be his most creative boat because it uses hydrogen to power the fixtures in the cabins.

Piero lissoni calls sanlorenzo 50steel superyacht ‘creative’

The Italian architect, art director, and designer says that Sanlorenzo’s 50Steel superyacht is creative ‘because it no longer has decks, but rather areas that have been designed as true architectures, with large spaces that dialogue with each other. It’s creative because, when open, there’s a barrier-free beach club extending for over 135 square meters. And it’s creative because what was previously the engine room has now become a living area.’ What Piero Lissoni means is Sanlorenzo’s HER system, aka the ‘Hybrid Engine Room.’

It’s a new concept for the engine room on a superyacht because normally, it can take up to two levels of vertical space. In that case, the engine room uses up space that could’ve been for the passengers. With HER, the engines, components, and other mechanical systems on board are placed horizontally, so that they only take up one level (and not vertically). This frees up a whole extra level in the lower part of the 50Steel yacht, which the design team has taken advantage of by installing an ocean lounge with a large aft Beach Club, spa, and gym all in a single, open space.

Even before the visitors step onto the 50Steel superyacht, they can already see the five staggered decks with less partitions. The concept of hospitality is present, from the spacious salon to the dedicated gym and spa on the lower deck. The design team uses light and muted colors and materials to bring out the hotel nature of the interiors.

In fact, part of Piero Lissoni’s brief was to reinvent the classic style. He and the design team do so by placing coffered ceilings and dark-wood walls around the interiors, softened and illuminated by masked warm lighting. On the upper deck, the dining room sits in the middle of the space.

In total, Sanlorenzo’s 50Steel superyacht has four guest cabins and one for the owner. There are also two pools, one on the aft Beach Club and another on the sun deck. Going to the three upper levels, a system of stairs connects them all, a way to bridge as much space as the design allows.

Those who may want to slow down and look at the horizon can do so on one of the three open terraces that the design team has opened up for the visitors. When docked, the superyacht also doesn’t release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, thanks to the fuel-cell system Sanlorenzo has installed for the vessel, trading diesel for green methanol to fuel its electricity.