<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/can-wind-propulsion-technology-really-help-power-modern-ships/>
"The maritime industry is again facing up to the broad call for decarbonisation
as the Maritime Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) 82 wraps up, including
key, laudable outcomes on the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) – a transparent
accounting of the carbon intensity of ship’s operations.
Flag state governments should feel confident adopting these new CO2
regulations. The necessity is, by now, clear to all and the technology is ready
and waiting to meet the challenge.
Wind propulsion systems (WPS) are a modern, industrialised sailing technology
using 21st century materials science and computer modelling. It is as far
removed from 18th century sailing ships as today’s Formula 1 cars are from 18th
century horse-drawn carts. It deserves an honest appraisal.
Too often sidelined by a prejudiced association with the past (as if 5,000
years proof of concept is a bad thing), today’s modern WPS technology is ready
to be retrofitted to existing commercial vessels, promising immediate emissions
reduction with double digits.
Several working wind propulsors are already commercially available, and vessels
equipped with these mechanical sails are presently operating on both short-sea
and deep-sea routes.
Proper price signals are needed to channel investment into wind propulsion,
which is today struggling against a historic low oil price and a lack of
operational experience with wind-powered vessels.
For the shipowner or operator, this lack of experience stands in the way of
early adoption in a rather risk-averse sector.
Moreover, for the regulator who wishes to promote the uptake of sustainable
technologies, failing to solve this knowledge gap raises the spectre of
misdirected policies which do not steer our industry down a cost-optimal energy
transition.
By directly utilising free and abundant wind energy for part of the vessel
propulsive requirement, wind propulsion technologies are unburdened by the
complexity of new energy carriers (as for example the effective transportation
of hydrogen), or any shore-based infrastructure investments.
Furthermore, wind propulsion systems can be integrated with new fuels as they
come online, where incidentally the cost and complexity for these future fuels
offers a longer-term driver.
WPS as part of a future vessel powering arrangement can absorb a substantial
part of the propulsive requirement, meaning the vessel can be designed with a
smaller main propulsion system sufficient to achieve the required transit
times."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
