Sunpower moves 27-meter solar-electric catamaran to water’s edge for trials

Amantis 7 has been moved to the water’s edge, putting Sunpower’s 27-meter solar-electric catamaran into the final stretch before sea trials begin. For this boat, the real test is no longer the render or the build plan. It is whether a fully integrated solar-electric catamaran can deliver propulsion, hotel loads, and quiet luxury on the water, not just promise it on paper.

Sunpower describes the yacht as the world’s first fully integrated solar electric power yacht of its size, and the numbers behind the platform explain why the launch matters. YachtBuyer lists Amantis 7 as the first yacht built on the Sunpower-Alva Solar-E 90 design, with a 14-meter beam, 1.4-meter draft, 264 gross tons of internal volume, accommodation for up to 8 guests in 4 suites, and space for up to 4 crew. It is also rated for a top speed of 18 knots and a cruising speed of 10 knots.

The energy strategy is built around solar collection across much of the catamaran’s surface area, feeding power into a next-generation battery system that supports the electric drivetrain. That setup is meant to cover both propulsion and onboard hotel loads, cutting or eliminating fossil-fuel use during operation while reducing noise and vibration at sea. Sea trials will matter because they have to prove the logic of the whole package, not just the headline solar array. The question is how the boat manages real-world demand when the owners want lights, climate control, galley systems, and movement at the same time.

The project did not emerge overnight. In July 2020, Alva Yachts’ Ocean Eco 90 was already in build, with more than 200 square meters of solar panels and a peak output of 40 kW. That same report said the platform could be ordered with either a hybrid package, using twin 250 kW electric drives and two 456 kW diesel engines, or a fully electric setup with twin 500 kW electric drives and a 360 kWh battery pack. By March 2023, Alva had expanded the line with the 23.7-meter Ocean Eco 78, slotting it between the Ocean Eco 60 and Ocean Eco 90.

The broader business story is just as important. Sunpower Yachts International acquired Alva Yachts GmbH in 2025, bringing together two solar-electric yacht developers and linking Amantis 7 to a larger production strategy. Sunpower said its own portfolio includes smart energy management systems, hydro generation capabilities, and high-efficiency solar panels. With Amantis 7 now at the water’s edge, the next months will show whether that combined technology stack can move larger solar-electric catamarans from specialist concept to credible market reality.