UniBoAT and Carbon Cylinder

Hydrogen, composite materials, and the future of sustainable boating

Research into hydrogen and advanced materials is radically transforming the transportation sector, with competitive boating emerging as one of the most dynamic testing grounds for high-efficiency innovations.
In this context, the collaboration between UniBoAT—a multidisciplinary team from the University of Bologna—and Carbon Cylinder Srl, a company specialised in the production of Type 4 cylinders, characterised by a plastic liner completely wrapped in composite material.
The catamaran Futura, developed by the UniBoAT team for the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, is a concrete example of how materials engineering, hydrogen propulsion systems, and advanced naval design can converge to create a highly efficient vessel.
But what makes this collaboration truly innovative? And what are the technological and market implications of the engineering choices behind it?

A complex integration

The use of hydrogen as an energy carrier in the maritime sector presents very specific challenges compared to other areas of sustainable mobility. While in the automotive sector, hydrogen is stored in cylinders on board vehicles and converted into energy via fuel cells, in the maritime sector there are problems related to weight, safety and volume distribution.
In the case of Futura, the UniBoAT team has developed a solution that integrates three energy sources: high-pressure hydrogen converted into electricity via a PEM fuel cell, lithium batteries for immediate power release and storage, and high-efficiency solar panels to extend operational range.
This hybrid approach allows the strengths of each technology to be exploited to the full: hydrogen for continuous power generation, batteries to handle peak demand, and photovoltaics to optimise operational autonomy.

The strategic role of Carbon Cylinder’s tanks

One of the critical elements in integrating hydrogen into ship propulsion systems is on-board storage. The weight and volume of the cylinders directly influence the design of the boat, its distribution of weights and consequently the hydrodynamic performance.
Carbon Cylinder supplied UniBoAT with two 20-liter Type 4 cylinders. Thanks to their composite structure with an internal plastic liner, these tanks are about four times lighter than Type 1 steel cylinders and 30% lighter than Type 3 carbon-reinforced aluminum cylinders.
They are designed to withstand maximum pressures of up to 900-1,000 bar, ensuring a high density of stored energy per unit volume. The absence of metal in the liner eliminates the risk of hydrogen embrittlement, a common problem in steel or aluminium cylinders, improving longevity and operational safety.

Future perspectives

While the adoption of hydrogen in land mobility is now a well-established reality, the maritime sector is still facing a number of technical and infrastructural challenges.
The Monaco Energy Boat Challenge is one of the first events to offer logistical support for hydrogen.
In the long term, the integration of hydrogen into commercial vessels could radically transform the sector.
The collaboration between UniBoAT and Carbon Cylinder demonstrates the value of contamination between academia and industry in promoting advanced technological solutions. The Futura project is not only a test case for new technologies, but also represents a concrete vision of how maritime mobility could evolve in the coming years.
With the increased focus on the decarbonisation of transport and the new opportunities offered by hydrogen, innovation in materials and storage systems will play a crucial role.

Carbon Cylinder, with its Type 4 cylinders, is positioned as a strategic player in this scenario, offering lightweight, safe and efficient solutions for a more sustainable future.
In particular, Carbon Cylinder’s tanks have obtained the ‘Non-Limited Life’ certification, eliminating the concept of an ‘expiration date’ for high-pressure cylinders.