Breakthrough, the $650 million hydrogen-powered superyacht rumored to be owned by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates recently broke into the spotlight with a high-profile appearance on the French Riviera.
Onboard
The 390-foot vessel arrived in Antibes after a three-day journey from Gibraltar, stirring speculation that the Mediterranean cruise could be a farewell tour of sorts. Despite the unconfirmed rumors Gates owns the boat, he apparently has not set foot on the yacht since its completion in 2024, Luxury Launches reports.
More unconfirmed reports claim Gates is in advanced talks to sell Breakthrough to Canadian billionaire Patrick Dovigi, who runs Green For Life Environmental, according to Luxury Launches.
That deal suggests the cruise might serve more than leisure—it could be the closing chapter of a multi-year investment in green technology.
The project spanned five years and required deep pockets and patience. Gates set out to prove that hydrogen fuel cell technology could be scaled to operate a large yacht, signaling that clean energy solutions were viable for the maritime industry — not just experimental or theoretical.
“The brief was to build the greenest and most environmentally advanced yacht ever built, without compromise,” says Jamie Edmiston, CEO of yacht brokerage Edmiston.
Most superyachts, like Bezos’ $500 million sailing vessel Koru, burn immense amounts of diesel fuel to support onboard systems like lights, air conditioning, and communication — even when sitting at the dock.
This “hotel load” can make up 70 to 78 percent of a yacht’s annual energy use.
Breakthrough’s hydrogen fuel cell system eliminates those emissions entirely during low-speed cruising and docking.
Jan-Bart Verkuyl, CEO of Feadship Royal Van Lent shipyard, emphasized the long-term goals.
“The aim has been to develop a new, clean technology not just for this project, but for the world,” he says, according to Forbes.
Feadship accepted that hydrogen couldn’t yet support transoceanic travel but could dramatically reduce emissions where yachts consume the most energy.
“Even a yacht the size of Project 821 cannot carry enough liquid hydrogen to power a crossing, but Feadship could impact a yacht’s carbon footprint where it is largest — generating electricity to serve the hotel load,” according to company statements. “Supplying that electrical power via non-polluting hydrogen fuel cells has a swift and significant impact.”
Inside, Breakthrough merges sustainability with high-end design.
The owner’s deck includes two staterooms, dual offices with fireplaces, a private gym, and a vertical elevator flanked by built-in bookshelves. Natural materials such as eucalyptus, rattan, and marble establish a clean coastal look across 12 guest staterooms and accommodations for 44 crew members.
Amenities rival those of top-tier resorts: a cinema, library, hospital, steam room, and even a pickleball court. The yacht features 14 slide-out balconies that extend with the touch of a button, along with an aft deck infinity pool with a movable glass floor. Multiple hot tubs and a private dining room with sea views complete the luxury profile.
Breakthrough can operate for up to one week on hydrogen alone, running in complete silence. Its 3.2-megawatt fuel cell system produces only water as a byproduct. For extended voyages, the yacht switches to generators fueled by renewable biofuel, cutting emissions by 90 percent compared to conventional diesel engines.
Storing four tons of hydrogen at minus 423 degrees Fahrenheit required new engineering.
“Although there are hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars, and fuel cells have been used as the primary source of electrical power on human spaceflight for more than six decades, nothing existed in the maritime sector,” Feadship notes.
“There were no regulations for hydrogen storage and fuel-cell systems at class, flag-state or even the International Maritime Organisation level,” the company explains. Feadship’s work has effectively established a blueprint for future builds.
Selling Breakthrough to Dovigi moves the tech into active commercial use.
Already, two Norwegian ferries are set to adopt the same fuel cell system in 2025. Whether or not Gates completes the sale, Breakthrough proves that luxury and sustainability are no longer mutually exclusive in the world of yachting.
