A UK start-up is using satellite data to develop technology that will help the shipping industry reduce its CO2 emissions.
90% of everything we consume is moved by sea.
As world trade continues to grow, there is an increasing number of ships crossing our oceans, each using vast amounts of energy.
The shipping industry is responsible for around 940 million tonnes of CO2 annually, which is at least 2.5% of the world’s total CO2 emissions.
Cutting CO2 emissions by 50%
The International Maritime Organization has set a target for it to cut these emissions by 50% by 2050.
The UK government is the first in the world to include emissions from international shipping in its domestic carbon budget.
To help the shipping industry rise to the greenhouse gases challenge, UK company, Smart Green Shipping (SGS) has developed a wind-assist power solution based on America’s Cup wing sails.
Smart vertical aerofoils
Its ‘FastRigs’ system involves a series of ‘smart’ vertical aerofoils mounted on vessels.
The aerofoils are paired with a sophisticated analysis system that can accurately calculate the available wind to any ship, across any trade route at different speeds.
It aims to reduce fuel consumption by at least a fifth initially and building on that as the technology progresses.
Space tech meets wind power
SGS has been using meteorological and satellite technology at the European Space Agency’s Business Incubation Centre UK (ESA BIC UK).
The technology will help to develop the prototype for this state-of-the-art digital software for this wing sail system.
This digital software can provide projected annual fuel savings accrued, whether that is through retrofitting the technology into an existing ship, or as part of a new-build design.
This enables project partners to finance the greenhouse gas-saving technology.
Intelligent wing sails
It also makes the wing sails ‘intelligent’ by:
- sensing when to turn to make the most of the wind angle and speed
- retracting when approaching a bridge, or when wind speeds present a danger.
It does all this autonomously meaning there is no need for any additional crew to operate.