TU Delft Hydro Motion Team

What TU Delft Hydro Motion Team does

TU Delft Hydro Motion Team is an independent student project team based at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, founded in 2005, that designs, builds, tests, and races hydrogen-powered foiling boats for international maritime competition. Each annual team cycle consists of roughly 23-25 multidisciplinary TU Delft engineering students who develop a single prototype vessel over the course of a year and race it primarily at the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge. The team's core technology platform combines a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain, a hybrid 350-bar gaseous and cryogenic liquid hydrogen storage system (storing hydrogen at -253°C / 20 Kelvin for 3x the volumetric fuel density of gaseous hydrogen), and hydrofoil technology that lifts the boat above the water surface to reduce drag and enable speeds up to 50 km/h. Supporting subsystems include a connected "pi foil" wing design, PID-controlled height regulation, electric steering, and a carbon vacuum-infused 7.5m hull. The team has accumulated notable technical milestones: the world's first foiling hydrogen-powered boat (2020), the first hydrogen-powered boat to cross the North Sea (2024), a 2023 Monaco Energy Boat Challenge World Championship in the Open Sea Class, and a 2nd overall finish in the Monaco SeaLab Class in 2025 with wins in the Endurance Challenge and podiums in Speed Record and Manoeuvrability.

The team's go-to-market motion is community-led rather than commercial: they recruit annually from TU Delft, secure in-kind and financial sponsorship from a tiered partner ecosystem of over 30 companies and government bodies (including DEME Group, TNO, Dutch Ministry of Defence, Port of Rotterdam, ABB, SKF, and Dassault Systèmes), and generate public visibility through social media, press coverage, boat reveal events, and industry exhibitions such as the Offshore Energy Exhibition. The team does not sell products or services commercially; participation is funded exclusively through sponsorship, grants, and in-kind contributions from partners across maritime, research, hydrogen, and industrial sectors. Their customer segment is the maritime industry broadly, which they serve as a technology demonstrator showing that liquid hydrogen can be a viable, high-energy-density alternative to fossil fuels and lithium-ion batteries for long-distance sustainable maritime transport.

Name

TU Delft Hydro Motion Team

Legal name

TU Delft Hydro Motion Team

Website

https://hydromotionteam.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TU Delft Hydro Motion Team is a TU Delft student project team, founded 2005, that designs, builds, and races hydrogen-powered foiling boats each year to demonstrate sustainable maritime technology at competitions like the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable maritime racing technology

NAICS

Boat Building (336612), Ship Building and Repairing (336611)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Hybrid & Electric Propulsion Systems (IMAJAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Electric & Hybrid Leisure Craft Manufacturing (IMAJAEAK), Hydrodynamics & Performance Engineering (Resistance, Propulsion, Seakeeping, Maneuvering) (IMAJAGAB)

Keywords

• Hydrogen-powered boats
• Foiling boat technology
• Sustainable maritime racing
• Cryogenic hydrogen storage
• Student engineering competitions

Headquarters

HQ city

Delft

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Sponsorship and Partnership Revenue: The team operates as a student project dependent on sponsorships, partnerships, and grants from companies and organizations. They do not generate revenue from product sales as they are building experimental technology demonstration vehicles for competition purposes.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

TU Delft Hydro Motion Team designs, builds, tests, and races hydrogen-powered foiling boats as a student competition project. Each year the multidisciplinary TU Delft team produces a new boat (e.g., Mira for 2025) to compete at the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, demonstrating liquid hydrogen propulsion and hydrofoil technology for sustainable maritime applications.

Product overview

TU Delft Hydro Motion Team designs and builds hydrogen-powered foiling boats for competitive racing. Their product portfolio consists of iterative boat designs (Aurora 2023, Anna 2024, Mira 2025, HMT26) showcasing advancing hydrogen propulsion technology. The core product is a hydrogen-powered racing boat featuring hydrofoil technology that enables the vessel to fly above the water surface at high speeds. Key components include the hydrogen fuel cell powertrain, cryogenic liquid hydrogen storage systems, pi foil hydrodynamics, and PID-controlled height regulation systems. The team competes in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge's SeaLab and Open Sea Classes, demonstrating sustainable maritime technology through racing competitions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mira (HMT25) Hydrogen-Powered Foiling Boat A 7.5-meter-long, 2.5-meter-wide hydrogen-powered foiling boat designed for the Monaco SeaLab 2026, featuring liquid hydrogen propulsion with a custom cryogenic storage system, pi foil technology for improved hydrodynamics and banking turns, and PID-based height control. It is the team's 2025-2026 competition boat for maritime sustainable technology demonstration.
• Anna (HMT24) Hydrogen-Powered Foiling Boat The 2024 hydrogen-powered foiling boat built with compressed hydrogen fuel cell propulsion, notable for being the first hydrogen-powered boat to cross the North Sea from the Netherlands to the United Kingdom, demonstrating long-distance seaworthy hydrogen propulsion.
• Aurora (HMT23) Hydrogen-Powered Foiling Boat The 2023 hydrogen-powered foiling boat that won the World Championship at the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge in the Open Sea Class, demonstrating hydrogen's viability for maritime endurance racing with foiling speeds up to 50 km/h.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3x more fuel storage capacity with liquid hydrogen compared to gaseous hydrogen for same volume
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered diamond partner, platinum partner, gold partner, silver partner, bronze partner, supplier, advisory partner and operational partner.

• DEME Groupdiamond partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerDEME Group is a world-leading EPC contractor for marine infrastructure projects. As a Diamond Partner, they support the team's sustainable engineering efforts.
• Contest Yachtsplatinum partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerContest Yachts is a Dutch yacht builder specializing in sailing yachts. The team produces hulls at Contest Yachts facility in Medemblik using carbon vacuum infusion.
• TNOgold partnerTechnology or IntegrationTNO (Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast wetenschappelijk onderzoek) is the Dutch research organization. Partners for research and technology development.
• Flying Fishplatinum partnerTechnology or IntegrationMarine technology company providing technical expertise and support for the hydrogen-powered boat development.
• Dutch Ministry of Defenceplatinum partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports sustainable maritime innovation initiatives through partnership with the student team.
• Mean Wellplatinum partnerTechnology or IntegrationPower supply manufacturer providing electronics and power systems support for the boat's electrical infrastructure.
• Qconcepts Design and Engineeringgold partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign and engineering firm that produces hydrofoils for the boat. The team produces foils at Qconcepts facility.
• DEKC Maritimesilver partnerTechnology or IntegrationMaritime engineering consultancy providing technical expertise and support.
• Hylium Industriessilver partnerTechnology or IntegrationCompany specializing in hydrogen-related technology for maritime applications.
• MSA Servicesilver partnerTechnology or IntegrationService provider supporting boat systems and equipment.
• PD Gas Technologysilver partnerTechnology or IntegrationGas technology company providing expertise for hydrogen systems.
• Phoenix Contactsilver partnerTechnology or IntegrationElectrical connection and automation technology provider supplying cables and connectors for the boat.
• Port of Rotterdamsilver partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerEurope's largest port providing support for maritime operations and testing activities.
• Promarinsilver partnerTechnology or IntegrationMarine propulsion specialist that built the custom propeller for the boat in collaboration with MARIN.
• SMI Verspaningensilver partnerTechnology or IntegrationPrecision machining company that CNC-produced rear struts for the boat.
• Xtenderssilver partnerTechnology or IntegrationTender manufacturer providing technical support for boat components.
• MARIN (Maritime Research Institute Netherlands)bronze partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaritime research institute that collaborated on propeller design and testing, contributing to the boat's propulsion optimization.
• Boskalisbronze partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal dredging and marine expert company supporting maritime innovation projects.
• Dassault Systèmesbronze partnerTechnology or IntegrationSoftware company providing CATIA 3D modeling tools for boat design and engineering.
• 3MsupplierTechnology or IntegrationTechnology company providing materials and products for various boat applications.
• ABBsupplierTechnology or IntegrationTechnology company providing automation and electrical systems for the boat.
• MaxonsupplierTechnology or IntegrationPrecision motor manufacturer supplying servo motors for foil actuation and height control systems.
• Hexagon Purusbronze partnerTechnology or IntegrationHydrogen storage solutions provider supporting liquid hydrogen tank development.
• VoltH2bronze partnerTechnology or IntegrationHydrogen energy company providing green hydrogen fuel for the boat.
• Veth Propulsion / Twin Discbronze partnerTechnology or IntegrationMarine propulsion specialist providing drivetrain components.
• Royal Van Der LeunsupplierTechnology or IntegrationElectrical engineering company providing cable assemblies and electrical systems integration support.
• Sigmatexbronze partnerTechnology or IntegrationComposite materials supplier providing carbon fiber fabrics for hull construction.
• FestosupplierTechnology or IntegrationAutomation and control technology provider for boat systems.
• SKFsupplierTechnology or IntegrationBearing and motion technology provider supporting mechanical systems.
• JatecsupplierTechnology or IntegrationCNC machining company that produced front struts for the boat.
• KNRM (Koninklijke Nederlandse Redding Maatschappij)advisory partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoyal Dutch Sea Rescue Organization providing safety advisory support for North Sea crossing operations.
• Sima Chartersoperational partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaritime charter company providing support vessel during North Sea crossing.

Scale indicators22 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Zero Emission Services (ZES): Netherlands-based company deploying zero-emission inland shipping including hydrogen-powered vessels on European waterways; a closely overlapping emerging maritime-hydrogen operator in the same Dutch ecosystem.
• Switch Maritime: US company deploying the first commercial hydrogen fuel cell ferry fleet, building hydrogen maritime propulsion systems at much smaller scale — directly comparable emerging player commercializing hydrogen watercraft.
• H2 Energy: Swiss hydrogen mobility company building hydrogen refueling and fuel-cell vehicle integration (heavy trucks); comparable emerging player demonstrating hydrogen end-to-end at demonstration scale, including maritime-adjacent applications.
• Golden Gate Zero Emission Marine: Develops hydrogen fuel cell powertrains for commercial vessels; an emerging player in the same niche of demonstrating hydrogen propulsion as a viable maritime solution.
• Future Proof Shipping: Dutch company retrofitting inland vessels with hydrogen fuel cells; closely comparable emerging player proving hydrogen maritime viability, with direct overlap in the Dutch maritime-hydrogen ecosystem.
• EnergySail (Eco Marine Power): Japanese-Australian company developing rigid sails and renewable energy systems for ships including hydrogen integration; comparable emerging player marrying foiling/wind-assisted propulsion with alternative fuels.

Broad incumbents

• Wärtsilä: Global marine engine and propulsion manufacturer actively developing hydrogen and ammonia marine engines for commercial vessels; the largest incumbent whose product roadmaps the Hydro Motion R&D directly informs.
• ABB Marine & Ports: Supplies power, propulsion and automation for ships including hydrogen fuel cell integrations; ABB is already a Hydro Motion supplier, but also a giant incumbent in the same hydrogen/electric marine propulsion space the team is developing.
• Corvus Energy: Norwegian supplier of energy storage and increasingly hydrogen fuel cell systems for marine vessels; a broad incumbent in marine zero-emission propulsion technology directly relevant to the Hydro Motion tech stack.

Direct peers

• Forze Hydrogen Racing: TU Delft student team building hydrogen-powered race cars that, like Hydro Motion, competes internationally to demonstrate hydrogen mobility — directly comparable Dutch university student competition team pushing hydrogen propulsion boundaries.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TUDelftHydroMotionTeam
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hydromotionteam
• Instagraminstagram.com/hydromotionteam
• TikToktiktok.com/@hydromotionteam
• Xx.com/hydromotionteam
• Facebookfacebook.com/hydromotionteam

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TU Delft Hydro Motion Team