Renewable wind propulsion gains momentum in maritime industry

Modern wind propulsion solutions enable ship operators to harness the power of the wind for the propulsion of cargo ships and passenger ships. Multiple wind propulsion systems are available, with many mature systems on the market installed on vessels that have been sailing for several years using the power of the wind in tandem with fossil-fuel internal combustion engine configurations.

Recent market developments send a clear signal that a far more varied collection of market stakeholders are showing interest in wind propulsion technology. The International Windship Association (IWSA) is starting to see small fleet orders being made by shipowners, not only single ship deployments.

As informed, by the end of July this year there were forty-five vessels with wind propulsion technology installed on board in addition to ten wind-ready vessels, with a combined total of over 3 million DWT, indicating a three-fold increase in installations over the previous 12-month period. These are complemented by ten small, traditionally rigged cruise vessels and dozens of small sail cargo and fisheries vessels.

The uptick in wind-powered vessels hitting the water has been driven by the performance of wind propulsion technology strengthening in recent years coupled with installation costs and ROI shrinking as the number of installations increases with fossil fuel and alternative fuel prices remaining high.

Welcoming this intensifying interest in wind propulsion, IWSA Secretary General, Gavin Allwright says: “So far this year, we have witnessed new project announcements, order confirmations, and installation celebrations almost every week. This is a sector of technology development and renewable energy use that is clearly embarking on a voyage propelled by the prevailing winds rather than one still being buffeted by headwinds.”