Wind-assisted propulsion developers win big in latest CMDC funding round

Wind-assisted propulsion developers in the UK have secured major victories in the latest round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC), which has assigned £33 million (€38.6 million) for new technologies to 33 projects across all twelve regions of the UK.

Leading the charge is GT Green Technologies (GT), a UK-based wind propulsion expert, which has clinched substantial funds for its AirWing project.

The initiative focuses on the development, testing, and deployment of the rigid wingsail known as AirWing. This patented innovation aims to achieve highly efficient thrust outputs, acting as an auxiliary propulsion system and promising significant reductions in carbon emissions and fuel costs.

The project has been awarded a substantial £3.7 million grant to install a 20-metre AirWing unit on a Carisbrooke Shipping vessel in the UK. The 20-metre AirWing™ wind propulsion system will propel the vessel on its UK-Canada-UK route. It is expected to yield fuel and carbon emission savings of 8.3%, resulting in annual cost savings exceeding £139,000.

According to GT, over its 25-year lifespan, the 20-metre AirWing™ has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by an estimated 14,250 metric tonnes, equivalent to taking over 3,000 cars off the roads.

This demonstration aims to validate the fuel savings and emissions-reducing capabilities of AirWing technology.

The company said that AirWing can reduce carbon emissions and fuel costs by 10-30% for retrofits and up to 50% for new build vessels.

By focusing on a UK vessel, the project also seeks to showcase the practical applicability of AirWing within the nation’s maritime industry. The intended outcome is to provide empirical evidence of the technology’s efficiency, contributing to the ongoing global discourse on sustainable shipping practices.

“We’ve been discussing various technologies with GT Green for the last two years and are excited to be prototyping their AirWing concept in 2024. Using AirWing technology will reduce operating costs by lowering fuel consumption and emissions. It will improve the vessel’s green credentials and lower the tax burden for the ship’s operators. We will be installing the AirWing on one of our UK-registered vessels, and all the design work as well as construction will be carried out in the UK,” Captain Simon Merritt, Sr. Fleet Manager at Carisbrooke Shipping said.

To ensure the project’s success, a multidisciplinary team of experts will be brought together. This will include a design team, manufacturers, vessel integrators, and supply chain specialists. The project also aims to develop a detailed commercialization plan for AirWing, focusing on scaling up production.

GT Green Technologies added that it has already conducted feasibility studies for some of the largest global shipowners and received multiple LOIs for future orders.

Carisbrooke Shipping is contributing to multiple initiatives, including the Novel High-Efficiency Ammonia Engine Technology for Heavy Duty Marine Applications (HEAT-HD).

Collaborating with Carnot Ltd, DE Courcy Alexander, the University of Southampton, Brunel University London, Transformational Energy Limited, O.S. Energy (UK) Ltd, the project wants to introduce a high-temperature liquid-ammonia (LNH3) powered engine technology boasting 70% brake thermal efficiency. HEAT-HD targets marine propulsion systems, auxiliary power units, and shore-side power generation units up to 10MW.

In tandem with GT Green Technologies, other wind-assisted propulsion developers have also secured substantial support in the CMDC’s latest funding round.

Anemoi, in collaboration with Connected Places Catapult, Victoria Steamship Company Limited, and Frazer-Nash Consultancy Ltd, has secured funds to develop a 3.5-meter rotor sail design and demonstrator.

The primary objective of the project is the development of a 24.5-meter tall, 3.5-meter diameter rotor sail designed specifically for vessels operating in the UK, European, and North Atlantic waters.

To ensure the seamless integration of these rotor sails onto vessels, the project will undertake the construction of a full-scale demonstrator in the UK. Serving as a rigorous test bed, this platform will assess and mitigate risks associated with design elements, particularly internal mechanical components. Frazer-Nash Consultancy Ltd will conduct dynamic analyses throughout the design phase, providing essential data for performance comparison.

Over the 12-month project duration, Anemoi aims to design, manufacture, and test the demonstrator while producing a complete design for a 3.5-meter rotor sail ready for production in the UK.

The project also encompasses a desk-based certification process led by Stehr Consulting Ltd and Lloyds Register, leveraging their regulatory expertise for two representative vessels within the target market. Victoria Steamship, a UK-based vessel operator, will play a pivotal role by offering insights, vessel specifications, and serving as a potential facilitator for trials on one of their bulk carriers.

Connected Places Catapult will contribute to the project by conducting comprehensive market research to quantify the market potential for the new rotor sail in the UK, Europe, and transatlantic regions. With technical support from Frazer-Nash, they will explore the supply chain, identifying specific UK companies capable of manufacturing, assembling, and commissioning rotor sails, while also investigating the combination of rotor sails and future fuels.

The partners secured £1,376,048 for the project demonstration.

Anemoi already achieved commercial success with its 5m diameter Rotor Sail with installations on Kamsarmax and VLOC vessels. The 3.5m diameter Rotor Sail will be well suited for mid-range vessels, such as Handysize and Ultramax bulkers, chemical and product tankers, and RoRos. The grant will enable Anemoi to assess the performance of its new design in a safe and controlled environment close to its UK design offices.

Kim Diederichsen, Chief Executive Officer of Anemoi, said: “We are thrilled to be selected for this valuable grant to build the demonstrator which will continue to propel our commitment to sustainable maritime solutions. All thanks to the hard work of the team, Anemoi showcased the importance of our work to UK SHORE. We aim not only to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the maritime industry but to also chart a course towards innovation, collaboration, and positive environmental impact on a global scale.”

Oceanic Wingsails, partnering with IDPORTAL LIMITED and the University of Southampton, has received £153,421 in financial backing for their High-Performance Reefable Wingsail Rig Design and Pre-deployment Trial project.

The initiative aims to refine the aerodynamic and structural design of a novel reefable high-performance wingsail, maximizing power delivery for significant carbon reductions. The project addresses limitations in current rigid wingsails and employs patented technology for a film-based wingsail covering, allowing reefing and stowing. Computational fluid dynamics will be used to enhance aerodynamic performance, and lessons from an earlier prototype will inform practical hoisting and control systems.

Finally, a project named “Supercharging Wind Propulsion: Advancing Digital Tools in Maritime,” led by Scotline Limited in collaboration with the University of Southampton and Spaera LTD, has also received support. This initiative will address key issues surrounding WPT by enhancing performance, transparency, and real-world applicability through virtual methods and route analysis.

The project aims to improve transparency in WPT assessment techniques, utilizing computational fluid dynamics for greater accuracy. Going beyond specific conditions, the project showcases the real-world applicability of WPT, providing insights into accurate impacts across voyages and a vessel’s lifetime, correlated with actual operations through Scotline Ltd.