Bill Gates is the world’s second-richest man and is quite partial to holidays aboard luxury yachts.
The billionaire co-founder of Microsoft usually rents yachts for holidays off the coast of Sardinia but despite this, he hasn’t decided to take the plunge and buy one for himself.
It has been reported that Gates commissioned the construction of the Aqua, a 112m (370ft) ‘superyacht’. In actual fact, Gates has no intention to order the ship and the company responsible have made this clear.
‘Various articles have appeared in international media, stating that Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design sold its concept ‘Aqua’ to Mr. Bill Gates.’ the Dutch architecture and design company Sinot posted on its site.
‘These articles are factually incorrect.’
Even with the non-purchase of a massive hydrogen yacht, Bill Gates is very interested in sustainable technology and has championed it through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. There was that time he helped create a worm-powered toilet.
The Aqua would make for a grand holiday pad, though. The design features a helipad, infinity pool, gym and spa and – of course – two hydrogen-powered engines.
The Aqua uses two 28-tonne vacuum sealed tanks containing liquid hydrogen to power the two one-megawatt motors and propellers.
On-board fuel cells combine oxygen with the hydrogen to produce the electricity.
The only byproduct from the engines is water although because hydrogen filling stations are pretty rare, the ship will have a diesel engine backup tucked away in case of an emergency.
It still boasts a range of 3,750 miles and can hit a top speed of 17-knots.
And just as an extra, the fire bowls out on deck aren’t lit with wood or coal – they use a special gel that doesn’t produce any carbon dioxide.
The Aqua isn’t expected to hit the high seas until at least 2024. By then, someone else may have saved up enough to buy it.
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