ABB Builds a Floating 800-Volt Microgrid for a Ferrari Yacht

Direct Current ABB Builds a Floating 800-Volt Microgrid for a Ferrari Yacht

2026-09-17 Source: ABB | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

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100 feet long, self-sufficient, and powered 100 percent by renewable energy: ABB is equipping the new hydrofoil yacht “Ferrari Hypersail” with an extreme 800-VDC microgrid. This technology, developed for use on the high seas, is also set to make data centers and industrial facilities more resilient in the near future.

The Ferrari Hypersail is a 100-foot monohull wing-in-plane yacht powered entirely by renewable energy.(Source: ABB / Ferrari Hypersail) — The Ferrari Hypersail is a 100-foot monohull wing-in-plane yacht powered entirely by renewable energy.
(Source: ABB / Ferrari Hypersail)

The collaboration combines extreme athletic ambitions with highly complex electrical engineering: ABB has entered into a technology partnership with the Ferrari Hypersail project. The goal is to equip a 100-foot (approximately 30 meters) monohull wing-sail yacht, powered entirely by renewable energy, with state-of-the-art electrical systems. For electrical engineers and developers, the underlying energy architecture is of particular interest.

The 800-VDC power distribution system has established itself as a practical way to efficiently supply power to racks, even at the megawatt level. (Source: © zmaj88 – stock.adobe.com / AI-generated)

A Floating Microgrid for the World's Oceans

The technical design of this seagoing yacht resembles a high-performance, fully self-sufficient microgrid. The onboard systems operate on 48-volt and 800-volt direct current. This power grid must generate, store, and control the electrical energy for key systems such as navigation, hydrofoil control, safety, and propulsion.

The enormous challenge here is that the boat must operate on the open sea for weeks on end while being self-sufficient in energy. The sensitive technology must be able to withstand extreme conditions—such as cold, salt water, high pressure, and severe vibrations—on a continuous basis.

“Hypersail meets all of its energy needs from renewable sources,” explains Enrico Voltolini, project manager for Ferrari Hypersail, who views the partnership as a crucial technical prerequisite for the project. “The comprehensive expertise that ABB brings to the project in the field of electrification is a decisive advantage for us in terms of operations.” The ABB team has over 25 years of experience in direct current (DC) technology and holds more than 700 patents in this field; it will handle the integration of the DC systems, real-time monitoring, and smart power distribution.

The Ultimate Extreme Test for the Industry

But why would an industrial conglomerate get involved in such an ambitious sailing project? The answer lies in the insights gained under extreme conditions. The open ocean serves as a test bed here to further push the limits of the resilience and efficiency of modern direct-current architectures. The real-time interaction between renewable energy generation, storage, and power distribution is considered crucial for the development of next-generation industrial microgrids.

“Ferrari Hypersail provides us with a platform to push the boundaries of direct current technology together with our partners,” says Giampiero Frisio, head of ABB’s Electrification business unit. He notes that operating conditions at sea are quite comparable to the most demanding industrial applications. Frisio is certain: “Our experience from a project with such high demands gives us the opportunity to further develop resilient and efficient power supply systems for our customers across a wide range of applications—from maritime and renewable energy to data centers and industrial microgrids.”

The Ferrari Hypersail Project at a Glance

The Boat: A 100-foot (approx. 30-meter) hydrofoil monohull yacht, designed for peak performance on the open sea.
The propulsion system: The ship is powered entirely and completely independently by renewable energy sources.
The Technology: The architecture is designed as a self-sufficient microgrid. The systems operate at 48 volts and 800 volts DC (VDC).
ABB's mission: The technology group provides expertise in energy management, energy storage, and intelligent real-time monitoring and system integration.
Industrial Benefits: The insights gained under extreme conditions (cold, saltwater, vibrations) are directly incorporated into the development of robust DC architectures for data centers and industrial microgrids.

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