Yachts powered by the sun could help reduce harm to the environment.
By Marleny Rodriguez
In the middle of the ocean, perfect silence is usually interrupted by the rumble of a boat’s generator, the vibrations skipping off the water.
Michael Köhler is the co-founder of Silent Yachts, which creates high-quality, environmentally friendly yachts that blend sustainability and luxury via solar energy. He explains, “It’s more than unbelievable comfort that there is no generator running. There is no noise, there is no oil film on the water, there are no vibrations, and no fumes in the cockpit.”
The idea to create an environmentally conscious way to power yachts first ignited in Köhler’s mind around the 1990s, when he built a basic invention involving a bag of transistors and a battery.
“I never studied any technical studies at university, but I had the passion for it,” Köhler says, “and so I was simply learning by doing and was observing every technician who was on my boat.”
He continued to work to find a way to enjoy the luxury of sailing but also avoid using a diesel engine that would only contribute to the harmful use of fossil fuel. In 2009 he and his wife, Heike, founded Silent Yachts in Austria and produced one of the first solar-powered boats, the Solarwave 46. The couple tested the durability and efficiency of solar energy on a five-year journey through Europe’s rivers and foul weather. As a precaution, Köhler still believes in having a generator on board in case of risky weather or mechanical issues, but the generator was used fewer than 50 hours during the trip, and no maintenance was needed on the solar panels.
On a Silent Yacht, solar power is the main power source and the focal point of all design. The placement of the solar panels is specific to each style of yacht and considers factors like the appliances it must support and the weight of interior furniture that affects drag and friction on the water. The windows are shaded by the hull and/or the roof, using less energy to keep the cabin temperature cool. On cloudy days or when more speed is needed, the solar panels provide all the energy necessary while also powering household appliances. Energy can also be stored in batteries in case of consistently overcast weather.
The transparency in the company’s willingness to teach potential consumers about its production decisions sets it apart, as boat operations are well-known to contribute to pollution in waterways via engine emissions, chemicals, oil spills, and more. Silent Yachts’ YouTube channel features a Tech Shorts series that explains how and why certain parts or materials are used in the production of its boats. For example, the company has taken a note from submarine development in its use of carbon-fiber propellers, which consume less fuel and are also conveniently silent.
Silent Yachts received a 2024 Real Leaders Impact Award for Most Impactful People, ranking first in employee growth over a three-year period.
“A big point is to help others develop themselves because the company can only grow if the team members grow — not in number, but as individuals,” Köhler notes. “It’s really important that everybody understands that there is good soil for them to grow here. The company is led as a democracy. The main task is to keep the wheel spinning, to listen to the team to understand where there is a deficit or something that can be improved.”
Marleny Rodriguez is a contributing writer to Real Leaders.
