The World Wind Energy Association (WWEA) announced a strategic partnership with the International Windship Association (IWSA), to further promote the uptake of wind technology by the global shipping fleet.
WWEA promotes the deployment of wind energy technology around the world and IWSA focuses on wind propulsion technology projects.
As part of the joint force for wind energy technology promotion, the associations will facilitate an exchange of non-executive board members. The WWEA will contribute decades of experience in driving industry transition and taking advantage of the power of wind energy technology, in an effort to urgently trying to plot the commercial course towards full decarbonisation.
The IWSA, in parallel, will continue to bring together all parties in the development of a wind-ship sector to shape industry and government attitudes and policies.
The Associations’ first collaborative steps will be taken during the UN Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP23) summit in Bonn, Germany next month. Also during UNFCCCC COP23, WWEA will support the ‘Ambition 1.5C: Global Shipping’s Action Plan’ summit on November 13.
IWSA Secretary General, Gavin Allwright comments: “Collaborating with the WWEA team on joint projects enables IWSA to accelerate uptake of this abundantly available, free-to-use energy source into the maritime sector…With WWEA support, we see a great future for the development and uptake of wind technology in the commercial fleet.”
WWEA Secretary General, Stefan Gsänger comments: “We are delighted to form this collaborative relationship with IWSA, whose approach and activities fit squarely with WWEA’s objectives to promote wind energy in all sectors. Shipping is certainly an area that will greatly benefit from the uptake of wind power and we look forward to working closely with IWSA to make that happen faster and at scale.”
Wind-assisted propulsion offers one of the few realistic options for introducing renewable power into shipping.
Recently, Hamburg-based Sailing Cargo initiated the Quadriga sustainable shipping project, which aims to build the world’s biggest sailing cargo ship using hybrid technology for CO2 emissions reduction, to fulfill industry’s vision of creating a greener, more sustainable solution for transport across the sea.
QUADRIGA is the first sailing cargo carrier in the world, built to transport goods emission-free, using only wind power to propel her across the ocean. In addition, she is the biggest sailing ship of all time.
