The Pyxis Ocean cargo ship with two foldable WindWings. (Image Credit: Cargill)
Nothing new under the sun.
Earlier this month, Pyxis Ocean, a large red ship powered by dual WindWings, began its journey from China to Brazil, testing out the new technology. These two large steel sails, standing 37.5 meters tall, were designed by BAR Technologies and developed by Yara Marine Technologies. The WindWings could produce up to 30% of emissions savings, which could increase if it's used with alternative fuels.
Each year, the shipping industry generates over one billion tons of carbon dioxide and accounts for approximately 3% of worldwide emissions from humans. In July, the sector promised to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, helping to combat climate change. And wind-powered ships may contribute toward reaching that goal. We already got a head start with this idea by introducing new wind-assisted propulsion technologies over the past few years. Previously, cargo ships had massive kites and rotors, making them less reliant on diesel. The International Wind Association says twenty large commercial vessels run with wind propulsion.
The large sails can help reduce carbon emissions by saving 1.5 tons of fuel per wing each day while traveling. (Image Credit: Cargill)
"The maritime industry is on a journey to decarbonize—it's not an easy one, but it is an exciting one," said Jan Dieleman, President of Cargill's Ocean transportation business. "At Cargill we have a responsibility to pioneer decarbonizing solutions across all our supply chains to meet our customer's needs and the needs of the planet. A technology like WindWings doesn't come without risk, and as an industry leader – in partnership with visionary shipowner Mitsubishi Corporation - we are not afraid to invest, take those risks and be transparent with our learnings to help our partners in maritime transition to a more sustainable future."
These sails are comprised of steel and glass. They fold so whenever a ship approaches a bridge or enters a port, they can be brought down, effectively avoiding collisions. The Pyxis Ocean ship had them fitted in Shanghai before the ship departed to Singapore and fueled up before launching. While traveling, the wings are being monitored for performance. Doing so will provide a better glimpse into how the design can be improved before it's manufactured at scale.
The WindWings are also very beneficial because they can be retrofitted on today's cargo ships and decrease carbon emissions. Plus, these large sails allow vessel owners to inch closer to the new energy efficiency industry rules. And they can save money with less fuel usage. WindWings could save 1.5 metric tons of fuel/wing each day while traveling on an average global route, and they also have a chance of saving more on trans-ocean routes. Additionally, it plays a crucial role when considering cleaner fuels like methanol and ammonia that have higher costs.
However, experts note that if we want wind-assisted technologies to become more common, the cost should match the fuel savings they generate.
BAR Technologies is working on more contracts. One is a Vale-charted vessel featuring four WindWings expected to depart from Shanghai in September.
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