Integrating renewable propulsion systems in sailing yachts: An interdisciplinary life-cycle assessment and sustainable energy model – New Q1 Journal Paper Published. A Review Post.

The core research question motivating the study is: “How can renewable-electric propulsion be effectively integrated into mid-sized cruising yachts to enhance environmental benefits and operational adequacy?” This question addresses the need for a comprehensive understanding of energy modeling, life-cycle impacts, and the operational constraints faced by such vessels.

Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949736126000072?getft_integrator=clarivate&pes=vor&utm_source=clarivate

MLA:
Nomak, Hamdi Sena, and İsmail Çiçek. “Integrating renewable propulsion systems in sailing yachts: An interdisciplinary life-cycle assessment and sustainable energy model.” Green Technologies and Sustainability (2026): 100341.

APA:
Nomak, H. S., & Çiçek, İ. (2026). Integrating renewable propulsion systems in sailing yachts: An interdisciplinary life-cycle assessment and sustainable energy model. Green Technologies and Sustainability, 100341.

ISO 690:
NOMAK, Hamdi Sena; ÇIÇEK, İsmail. Integrating renewable propulsion systems in sailing yachts: An interdisciplinary life-cycle assessment and sustainable energy model. Green Technologies and Sustainability, 2026, 100341.

• The paper addresses the challenge of reducing life-cycle emissions in recreational craft, specifically focusing on renewable-electric yachts that can cut emissions by up to 85%.
• This matter is significant as it aligns with global efforts to decarbonize marine transportation and improve sustainability in the yachting industry.
• A notable gap identified is the lack of an integrated systems engineering framework that combines operational energy modeling with life-cycle assessment and techno-economic evaluation for mid-sized yachts.
• The paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of renewable energy management strategies, operational constraints, and techno-economic feasibility to enhance yacht design and policy towards zero-emission vessels.

Sailing yachts can achieve operationally zero-emission propulsion by integrating solar photovoltaic (PV), wind and hydrokinetic generation with battery-electric drive systems. This study applies a systems engineering modeling framework to quantify the environmental, operational-energy and techno-economic performance of a renewable-electric retrofit for a 12 m cruising monohull, evaluated against diesel and battery-electric alternatives. An ISO 14040/14044-consistent life-cycle assessment (LCA) implemented in an Excel toolchain is coupled with time-resolved energy-balance simulations and a retrofit-oriented cost model (baseline year 2025). Over the functional unit (20 years or 20,000 nautical miles), the diesel baseline produces 65 t CO₂-eq, while the battery-electric case yields 28 t CO₂-eq under a moderately clean grid and the renewable-electric configuration achieves 10–12 t CO₂-eq (80%–85% reduction versus diesel). In both electric cases, onboard operational CO₂ emissions are eliminated, while life-cycle impacts persist due to manufacturing, replacement and end-of-life processes. Energy simulations show that integrated PV, wind and hydro generation can supply >80% of combined hotel and propulsion demand under representative cruising profiles, with storage buffering variability and an energy management strategy prioritizing real-time renewable utilization. The principal constraint is prolonged motoring in low-renewable conditions: a 30 kWh usable battery provides approximately 4 h at 5–6 kn (2.6–3.1 m/s). Sensitivity results emphasize that life-cycle outcomes are strongly influenced by electricity carbon intensity, battery production impacts, recycling rates and renewable availability. Overall, the study provides a transparent, replicable framework for designing and evaluating renewable-electric propulsion in recreational and small-scale marine craft within the broader scope of green technologies and sustainability.

• The paper employs a life-cycle assessment (LCA) methodology to evaluate the environmental performance of renewable propulsion systems in sailing yachts.
• An energy modeling approach is utilized to analyze energy generation, storage dynamics, and operational profiles under realistic conditions.
• A techno-economic assessment is conducted to determine the economic feasibility of different propulsion configurations, including diesel, battery-electric, and renewable-electric systems.
• The study integrates sensitivity analysis to address uncertainties in the modeling, enhancing the robustness of the findings.
• Feasibility metrics such as renewable fraction, emissions abatement cost, and operational adequacy are assessed to evaluate the practicality of the proposed systems.

• The research indicates that an appropriately sized mix of photovoltaic (PV), wind, and hydro generation can meet the yacht’s hotel-load and limited propulsion demands during typical coastal cruising.
• The results support the feasibility of near-complete energy self-sufficiency during typical cruising profiles.
• The study clarifies the boundary conditions under which the energy self-sufficiency concept remains robust, including local renewable resource availability, operational intensity, and charging electricity mix.
• The primary impact metric evaluated is the 100-year Global Warming Potential (GWP100), which considers battery manufacturing, grid carbon intensity, battery replacement frequency, and recycling rates.
• Qualitative considerations of operational air pollutants, which are eliminated at the point of use in electric cases, are also included in the results interpretation.

• The study emphasizes the importance of matching renewable capacity and storage to the expected duty cycle of yachts, which can enhance operational efficiency and energy management.
• It highlights the necessity of a well-designed Energy Management System (EMS) that automates power allocation, thereby reducing the burden on non-expert crews and improving energy-aware operations.
• The paper suggests that practical integration of renewable-electric propulsion systems requires robust marine-grade installation practices to ensure safety, maintainability, and fault tolerance.
• The findings indicate that real-world implementation is influenced by site-specific renewable inputs and operational assumptions, necessitating tailored approaches for different climates and usage intensities.
• The research underscores the need for instrumented sea trials to validate the modeling framework, ensuring that generation yields and user-driven load patterns are accurately assessed over extended periods.

• The paper presents a life-cycle model that links vessel design, operation, and end-of-life impacts, enhancing understanding of environmental effects.
• It demonstrates that renewable-electric yachts can cut life-cycle emissions by up to 85%, showcasing significant potential for reducing environmental impact.
• The study highlights that solar, wind, and hydro sources can meet over 80% of yacht energy demand, promoting sustainable energy solutions.
• An adaptive energy management system is proposed, which improves autonomy and battery lifespan, addressing operational efficiency.
• The techno-economic analysis indicates a feasible payback under real sailing use, suggesting practical viability for stakeholders

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