Shipping industry nears 100-installation milestone of wind propulsion systems

August 21, 2024, by Naida Hakirevic Prevljak

The application of wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS) across a variety of vessel types is nearing a tipping point with deployment likely to increase rapidly, but the lack of standardization for verifying fuel savings and concerns about equipment availability must be addressed, classification society Lloyd’s Register said in a new report.

With the industry close to achieving 100 installations and the orderbook reflecting the diversity of vessel types employing WAPS, along with increasingly substantial deployments as technologies move beyond prototype and pilot phases, the absence of a standard for verifying potential fuel savings is creating uncertainty for operators looking to select solutions.

With WAPS deployment likely to increase rapidly, driven by growing shipyard and operator familiarity with solutions, scaling up the supply chain to meet expected demand is a potential challenge. Market forecasts indicate that orders will accelerate especially in the bulk and tanker ship segments. Analysis of top-end potential identifies nearly 14,000 candidate vessels over the next 26 years.

With several suppliers delivering very few units today – but with more suppliers set to enter the market in the near future – shipowners and operators will need confidence that WAPS suppliers can remain competitive and deliver increasing numbers of units without jeopardizing project timeframes.

The report also points to the need for a wider base of shipyards with installation capabilities to meet expected demand, with only around sixteen yards to date having carried out WAPS retrofits.

While installations are not unfeasibly complex, they may be best implemented over multiple time periods, so project planning is a key consideration. Coordinating installations with scheduled maintenance and component lead times while working out the best time to install, safeguard compliance and minimize carbon cost exposure can prove challenging, the ‘Applying wind-assisted propulsion to ships’ report finds.

“Wind-assisted propulsion systems are increasingly being used by ship operators to reduce fuel consumption, meet energy efficiency regulations and minimise exposure to carbon costs. With 29 installations between 2018-2023 and 72 in the orderbook, LR’s new research report demonstrates that there is growing confidence in the available solutions,” Santiago Suarez de la Fuente, LR’s Ship Performance Manager, commented.

“There is a perfect storm brewing when it comes to reducing GHG emissions in shipping. New regulations, price challenges for existing and new fuels along with the growing pressure from cargo owners to reduce scope three emissions. These are driving the deployment of wind propulsion technologies, both as wind-assist and primary wind, retrofit and newbuild, however these systems need to be robust, safe and validated in order to build trust in the market and lay the foundation for scaling these across the fleet,” Gavin Allwright, Secretary, International Windship Association, pointed out.

The four WAPS technologies most commonly deployed today include flettner rotors, rigid sails, suction wings and kites. Each of these technologies come with their own challenges, operating constraints and installation considerations, alongside savings that can vary significantly. Other technologies, including soft sails and hybrid versions of existing solutions, are also emerging as the sector evolves

While some stakeholders advocate a return to full wind power for vessels, LR believes that that option remains limited to some very specific trades and vessel types. But wind as a supplementary propulsion provider is eminently feasible across a wide range of vessel types – if the challenges can be addressed, the classification society concluded.