Following the presentation of the all-aluminium TYKUN X tender at the Monaco Yacht Show 2025, the MED Group has released further details about its hydrogen-powered model. The twelve-metre-long TYKUN H1 offers emission-free cruising at speeds of up to 35 knots and a range of up to 60 nautical miles. Tykun with 55 knots.
The project benefits from the expertise of the TESYA Group, which developed the hydrogen propulsion system for the support boats of the 37th America's Cup in Barcelona. The H1 is also connected to NatPower H's hydrogen infrastructure, which enables practical refuelling.
Technology meets user-friendliness
"The TYKUN H1 project started with a challenge - to develop a hydrogen tender that is easy for customers to handle," explains Ugo Casadio, Chief Technical Officer at MED Group. The collaboration with the TESYA Group, fresh from developing the support boats for the America's Cup, proved crucial. It was about integrating this sophisticated technology into a boat that anyone could operate.
The core specifications of the H1 were clearly defined: A hydrogen-powered tender that offers autonomy for a full day with a range of 50 to 60 nautical miles, reaches a top speed of up to 35 knots and maintains a cruising speed of around 20 knots. "We also wanted to introduce a boat that offered the style and customisation options of our TYKUN dayboats and superyacht tenders," Casadio emphasises.
Innovative drive
At its core, the TYKUN H1 is an electric boat with a battery bank that drives electric motors. A fuel cell running on gaseous hydrogen serves as a range extender by charging the batteries and thus increasing the boat's range to 60 nautical miles. The regular shore power connection for fast charging is crucial. This means that the H1 can also be used as a powerful e-tender, even if access to hydrogen is limited.
The task of simplifying the hydrogen system fell to the TESYA team. "Building two hydrogen-powered foiling boats for the last America's Cup was a good test for us, as the required boat performance was extremely high," explains Vittorio Maccone, Sales Engineer at TESYA Group. "We gained a lot of experience and data and built up knowledge. This allowed us to redevelop the system."
Safety first and foremost
The H1 should not only be easy to operate, but also offer owners strict quality standards and maximum safety. Four hidden tanks hold around 32 kilograms of hydrogen at a pressure of 350 bar. A simplified pipework system transports the hydrogen to the fuel cell, which converts it into electricity. The only by-product is pure water.
The energy generated flows directly into the battery bank: "It's like having an electric boat with a charger plugged in all the time," emphasises Maccone. "This means that we can overcome the challenges that affect all electric boats - range and charging time - as it takes less than three minutes to fill the hydrogen tanks."
Tykun relies on tested safety
The system uses equipment that has been tested by leading classification societies. "The type approval covers the tanks, the fuel cell and the battery bank," confirms Maccone. "We have paid particular attention to safety, including the storage of the hydrogen to allow for both natural and forced ventilation."
NatPower H, which operates hydrogen refuelling stations in major ports and marinas and also provides mobile services, is also a partner in the project. "At NatPower H we are creating the global network infrastructure for ports and marinas, with already 40 hydrogen refuelling stations," says Marco Vassallo of NatPower H. "We work with hydrogen in gaseous form and have completed refuelling operations in Monaco, France, Italy and on the Italian lakes."
Design without compromise
For the design of the TYKUN H1, the team worked hard to minimise the visual impact of the hydrogen tanks. The result is a profile that carries TYKUN's dynamic DNA in its lines, with minimal compromise on looks or practicality. "In addition to the ventilated tank compartments, we also had to integrate compartments for the battery bank and the fuel cell. But we managed it and were still able to retain the storage space in the front," confirms Casadio.
"We wanted to design a layout where you wouldn't recognise that it was a hydrogen boat," he continues. "We only raised the deck by ten centimetres. We took safety aspects into account by integrating the ventilation openings into the T-top supports."
Award for sustainability
The H1 won the Tender/Water Toys category at the Blue Wake Awards at the Monaco Yacht Show in September 2025. The awards, overseen by the Water Revolution Foundation, recognise the most innovative and impactful solutions for environmental sustainability in the yachting industry.
The TYKUN H1 is fully designed and the team is ready to start construction. The estimated time frame for the construction of the first prototype is eight to ten months. Once series production begins, the delivery time for a new H1 boat is estimated at six to eight months.
Technical data Tykun H1:
- Length: 12 metres
- Maximum speed: 35 knots
- Cruising speed: 20 knots
- Range: 60 nautical miles
- Material: Aluminium
- Hydrogen storage: 32 kg at 350 bar
- Refuelling time: less than 3 minutes
- Construction time (prototype): 8-10 months
- Construction time (series): 6-8 months
