The comeback of Wind-powered ships

Sailing ships once carried much of the world’s cargo across the seas, until canvas sheets were replaced by low-grade “bunker” oil. Now it appears that wind power is about to make a comeback, with many companies vying to create such a system. The dream of a high tech, sustainable energy cargo ship has been percolating for a number of years now, but it hasn’t caught on in a big way. . At first, wind power for today’s ultra-huge cargo ships looks like a nice idea, but just not possible. The scale alone makes it seem impractical. However, that hasn’t stopped anyone from trying.

A German company, SkySails, has come up with a parachute-like design for cargo ships, which involves connecting giant parasail-like kites to ships via rope and allowing them to generate enough propulsion to cut down on fuel use (by 35%, in ideal conditions). The kites are controlled by computers that steer their flight path for maximum wind benefits. Each sail is about the size of a football field.

One of the cargo ships fitted with SkySails technology.

Another British company has developed a more traditionally styled, rigging-free sail system for smaller cargo ships.

Another solution comes in the form of rigid “sails” that double as solar panels. The patent-pending technology, called the Aquarius Solar and Wind Marine Power System, is being developed by a company called Eco Marine Power.

Eco Marine’s solution is a bit of a twofer. Instead of flexible fabric sails it uses an array of rigid “sail panels” that double as solar collectors. The incorporation of solar technology means that the ship can continue to harvest energy while in berth. If the technology proves itself, it gives rise to the potential for berthed cargo ships to contribute energy to the land grid, helping to cut down on the use of fossil fuels at ports. Eco Marine expects a prototype to be tested early in 2012.

The Eco-Sails concept

The shipping industry is set to spew up to 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 if no action is taken. With such high emissions, it’s necessary to encourage alternate ways to generate energy, and these technologies may help in reducing emissions tremendously.

By Saksham Bhatla