Wind ‘could help shipping tankers cut fuel by 10%’

A new technology could reduce the fuel consumption of shipping tankers by around 10%. Norsepower’s fuel efficient ‘rotor sails’, which use a spinning cylinder to harness wind power and help propel a ship, are to […]

A new technology could reduce the fuel consumption of shipping tankers by around 10%.

Norsepower’s fuel efficient ‘rotor sails’, which use a spinning cylinder to harness wind power and help propel a ship, are to be trialled on a vessel owned by Maersk Tankers.

The project, which will be the first installation of wind power technology on a product tanker vessel, is being primarily funded by the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) with support from Norsepower, Maersk Tankers and Shell.

Maersk Tankers will supply a 109,647 tonne ship which in 2018 will be retrofitted with two rotor sails, measuring 30 metres tall by five metres in diameter.

The vessel will then undergo testing and data analysis at sea until the end of 2019.

Tuomas Riski, CEO of Norsepower, said: “As an abundant and free renewable energy, wind power has a role to play in supporting the shipping industry to reduce its fuel consumption and meet impending carbon reduction targets.”

An investment of €150 million (€131.67m) is to support green shipbuilding projects in France.

Latest Podcast