WindWings: how to move a titanic ship with one wind

Since the shipping industry is estimated to be responsible for about 2.1% of global carbon dioxide emissions, there is a search for cleaner technologies to reduce these figures.

Seeking a possible solution at a pivotal moment for the industry, Cargill shipping company upgraded cargo ship with huge and tough “WindWings” designed to reduce fuel consumption.

The Pyxis Ocean vessel is now making its maiden voyage from China to Brazil to test the technology before it could be introduced to commercial shipping. The trip is expected to last about six weeks.

The 123-foot-tall sails are made from the same material used for wind turbines for maximum strength: they fold when the ship is in port and open when it is at sea.

The technology is the brainchild of the British firm BAR Technologies. Its CEO John Cooper said that Cargill contacted him and asked if he could invent a wind power system for its ships. “Perhaps they know more about shipping than BAR Tech; We are tech guys who know how to invent things and this partnership has been very, very strong.”

Using wind power instead of engine power could cut a ship’s emissions by 30% over its lifetime, according to Cargill.

“The maritime industry is on the path to decarbonisation; It’s not easy, but it’s exciting,” said Cargill Chairman Jan Dieleman. “At Cargill, we have a responsibility to implement decarbonization solutions across all of our supply chains to meet the needs of our customers and the needs of the planet.”

The WindWings project is co-funded by the European Union under the CHEK Horizon 2020 initiative and offers a retrofit solution to decarbonize existing ships.

Pyxis’ oceanic performance of the WindWings will be closely monitored during the voyage, and the data collected will help engineers improve sail design, performance and performance before potentially deploying the technology on other cargo ships around the world.