The Oceanbird Wing 560, a pioneering technological marvel by Oceanbird, a Swedish maritime engineering company, is set to change the face of sea travel. Towering at 40 meters and encompassing 560 square meters of surface area, this formidable structure, known as a wingsail, weighs approximately 200 metric tons. As the brainchild of Oceanbird’s managing director, Niclas Dahl, the wingsail straddles the line between traditional sails and airplane wings, borrowing aerodynamic principles from both to deliver unprecedented power and efficiency.
The wingsail design combines a sturdy main core and a secondary flap that draws air onto the core, mirroring techniques used in high-performance racing yachts that often outpace the wind itself. Composed of steel and ensheathed in glass fiber and recycled PET, this innovative design allows the wingsail to compress to less than half its original width and fold flat onto the deck. This adaptable mechanism will undergo rigorous testing in the coming months before it is retrofitted to an existing cargo ship, the Wallenius Tirranna.
The quest to transition to renewable energy sources is urgent in the shipping industry, a sector responsible for nearly 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Dahl emphasizes the importance of refitting existing vessels, arguing that for real change to occur, we must address the entire fleet, not just the new ships being built.
Founded in 2010 as a zero-emissions research venture, Oceanbird has evolved into an independent commercial entity, producing and marketing wingsails to the maritime industry. The company claims that retrofitting a single wingsail to an existing ship can cut fuel consumption by about 10%. However, vessels designed specifically around these sails promise far greater efficiency.
The first fully-integrated wind-powered ship, the Orcelle Wind, won’t launch until 2027. This gargantuan vessel, capable of transporting 7,000 vehicles, promises to reduce emissions by at least 60% compared to a similar-sized conventional ship. By making calculated concessions in terms of route and speed, emissions could be cut by as much as 90%, albeit at the expense of a longer transit time.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) aims to halve total greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 compared to 2008 levels. However, given the anticipated growth in global trade, which is overwhelmingly dependent on maritime transport, experts argue that this target falls short of the ambitions outlined in the Paris Agreement. The IMO plans to revise its emissions targets, potentially aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050.
There are alternatives to the traditional fossil fuels currently in use, such as methanol and ammonia. However, scaling up production to meet global demand is likely to be a slow process. As a result, efforts are focusing on reducing fuel consumption, and wind power is seen as a key solution.
There are several types of wind propulsion technologies, including hard sails like the Oceanbird wingsail, soft sails, rotor sails, suction wings, giant kites, wind turbines, and ships designed to function as a sail themselves. These technologies could be applied to virtually any type of ship, bringing new hope for a sustainable future in the maritime industry.
Still, transitioning to wind technology comes with its own set of challenges. The initial costs of installing wind propulsion systems are high, and certain practical considerations, such as restrictions at key shipping canals, pose additional hurdles. Yet, for each doubling of wind-powered installations, costs are projected to decrease by 10%.
The implementation of new policies, such as potential carbon taxes, could also accelerate the adoption of wind power in shipping. Moreover, a shift toward slower shipping times could result in significant emissions reductions. Adapting to a more flexible logistics model might be challenging, but the rewards in terms of sustainability could be substantial.
As Gavin Allwright, Secretary General of the International Windship Association, eloquently stated, wind is a free energy source and the only propulsion system that could potentially pay for itself. Thus, as the shipping industry continues to evolve and adapt, it’s clear that the winds of change are blowing in the right direction.
