ABB has announced a technology partnership with Ferrari Hypersail, a 30m oceanic full-foiling monohull yacht powered by renewable energy systems. As electrification partner, ABB will provide expertise across marine power, direct current (DC) technology and advanced electrical systems.
The Ferrari Hypersail vessel is designed for offshore performance, combining speed and safety with onboard energy generation and management.
As part of the collaboration, ABB will support the project with expertise in energy management, marine electrical systems, energy storage and intelligent monitoring.
According to ABB, the project provides an environment to test how advanced electrification, DC architectures and intelligent energy management can support resilience and efficiency under demanding offshore conditions – factors the company says are also relevant to the development of industrial microgrids.
Giampiero Frisio, president of ABB’s electrification business area, said, “Ferrari Hypersail gives ABB a unique platform to demonstrate how we are collaborating with partners to push the limits of direct current technology. Ferrari Hypersail is designed to operate in conditions that are as demanding as anything our systems face in industry. ABB’s role showcases how electrification and automation technologies help industries outrun and achieve record-breaking performance. The lessons from a challenge like this can help us advance the resilient, efficient power systems our customers need across sectors from marine and renewables to data centers and industrial microgrids.”
Enrico Voltolini, project leader of Ferrari Hypersail, said, “Hypersail runs entirely on renewable energy. It has to be self-sufficient for weeks at a time in the most hostile ocean environments on Earth. Having ABB’s electrification expertise connected to the project is a valuable operational advantage.”
Ferrari Hypersail’s DC architecture is designed to function as a self-sufficient microgrid, with systems operating at 48V and 800V DC. It will generate, store and manage power for navigation, foil controls, safety systems and propulsion in conditions including extreme cold, salt spray, pressure and motion.
ABB said its team will support Ferrari Hypersail with DC system integration, real-time monitoring, intelligent power distribution and resilience at sea, and that insights from the project will help inform power system development for shipping, data centers and renewable energy infrastructure.
In related news, ABB to acquire marine automation specialist Høglund