This New 73-Foot Yacht Is Wrapped in a ‘Solar Skin’ That Generates Energy at Sea

Solar panels are so passé—Riviera thinks so anyway.

The Australian yacht builder has teamed up with solar specialist Praxis to develop a new type of “solar skin” for models ranging from 39 to 78 feet. Sunreef has been incorporating a similar sort of integrated photovoltaic technology into its catamarans for about five years, but Riviera is rolling it out to motor yachts. 

“The pioneering efforts of our brilliant design team and the credentialed Praxis team have created an ingenious solution to reducing our yachts’ reliance on generated or shore power,” Riviera owner and chairman Rodney Longhurst said in a statement. “This is a significant breakthrough in many ways and with so many benefits from sustainability to enhancing the boating experience of Riviera yacht owners the world over.”

Unlike traditional rigid solar panels that are mounted atop aluminum frames, the new ultra-thin nano-composite solar skin is bonded directly into the yacht’s hardtop during the moulding stage of construction. All visible layers are optically transparent, with the 2 mm skin following the curvature of the roof and superstructure. The result is approximately 120 percent more power from only around 90 percent of the surface area compared to conventional marine solar installations. 

The first Riviera to feature the skin is a 6800 Sports Yacht Platinum Edition. The 73-footer, which was recently delivered to its new owner in South Australia, can reportedly generate 3 kW at peak performance. Other models, like the 58 Sports, can produce close to 10 kWh per day. 

The technology means the yacht can power the navigation equipment, refrigeration, lighting, and digital control systems, a.k.a. the hotel load, without using a generator, thereby extending time at anchor. Some of the larger models can last up to three days off grid without running a genset, according to Riviera. That, of course, means fuel costs are significantly reduced, too. 

The skin is fully waterproof, virtually unbreakable, and available in matte, gloss, or non-skid finishes, Riviera says. It has a far more seamless appearance than classic solar panels, so as not to detract from the exterior. 

“Solar integration had to meet the same structural and aesthetic standards as the yacht itself,” adds Dan Henderson, Riviera’s design and engineering director. “It was essential that this innovation enhance, rather than interrupt, the Riviera design language.”

The solar skin is now included as an option for new Riviera motor yachts, with bespoke designs currently being finalized across the range. Retrofit solutions are also available for existing vessels via the Riviera aftermarket service.

This article originally appeared in Robb Report US.