IWSA reveals threefold increase in wind propulsion installations

There were forty-five vessels with wind propulsion technology installed on board in addition to ten wind-ready vessels by the end of July this year, the International Windship Association (IWSA) revealed.

The wind-powered ships have a combined total of over 3 million dwt, indicating a threefold increase in installations over the previous twelve-month period.

The abovementioned fleet is complemented by ten small, traditionally rigged cruise vessels and dozens of small sail cargo and fisheries vessels.

As explained, the uptick in wind-powered ships hitting the water has been driven by the performance of wind propulsion technology strengthening in recent years coupled with installation costs and return on investment (ROI) shrinking as the number of installations increases with fossil fuel and alternative fuel prices remaining high.

“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,” Gavin Allwright, IWSA Secretary General, commented.

In related news, IWSA recently submitted a paper for the Marine Environment Protection Committee’s (MEPC) 82nd session dealing with the inclusion of wind propulsion in the mid-term measures developed to implement the 2023 IMO
Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships, with a reference to the technical measures currently being prepared.

The paper proposes an amended formula that could be used to calculate the attained Greenhouse Gas Fuel Intensity (GFI) which provides a concrete illustration of the technical proposal so that wind energy is accounted for equitably in the greenhouse gas emissions intensity balance for the ship.

With the deployment of wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS) set to increase rapidly, the absence of standards for verifying potential fuel savings is creating uncertainty for operators looking to select solutions, a new report published by Lloyd’s Register found.