Although hyperlocal, Keren’s efforts are part of the International Maritime Organization’s global project to reduce emissions from cargo transport to net zero by 2050. Beyond these small islands, much of the effort to meet the IMO’s goals is focused on replacing gasoline with alternative fuels, such as: Ammonia, methane, nuclear power, hydrogen, etc. And that’s something Marshallese have relied on for years: wind power. This is just one option on the table, but without a role for wind propulsion, the industry will not be able to decarbonize quickly enough to meet IMO targets, says the political anthropologist and author of Trade says Christian de Beukeler, author of Winds: A Voyage to a Sustainable Future for Shipping. “When you think about time, wind is essential,” he says. Research shows that installing wind power on ships could reduce the shipping industry’s carbon footprint by 20%.
“The way wind works is that it effectively eliminates variables such as fluctuations in fuel prices and the costs of carbon pricing schemes that the industry might adopt,” de Beukeller says. IMO it is technology agnostic. That is, we set goals and safety standards, but let the market find the best way to achieve them. A spokesperson for the group said promoting wind power was one of many avenues being considered.
Sails are used to provide full power to ships or assist motors as a way to reduce fuel consumption on large bulk carriers, oil tankers, and roll-on/roll-off vessels used to transport airplanes and automobiles around the world. You can use it to Modern cargo sails come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and styles, including wings, rotors, suction sails, and kites.
“When we have 55,000 years of experience, isn’t this a no-brainer?” said Gavin Allwright, executive director of the International Windship Association.
Older cargo ships with new sails can harness up to 30% of their wind propulsion energy, while cargo ships designed specifically for the wind can still rely on wind for up to 80% of their needs. says Allwright, who continues his research. Standardized metrics to determine which combinations of ship and sail models are most efficient.
“There are so many variables involved, from the size of the ship to the captain who is piloting it,” he says. He predicts that the 50th large ship equipped with wind technology will set sail in October 2024 and that offshore wind power will boom by early 2026.
Provided by Ocean Bird
hard wings
One of the most common designs for cargo ships is the rigid sail, which is a stiff wing-like structure placed vertically on the top of the ship.
“It looks a lot like an airplane wing,” says Niklas Dahl, managing director of Oceanbird, the Swedish company that developed the sail. Each has a main and flap, creating a room where the wind speed is faster on the outside than on the inside. In an airplane, that contradiction creates lift, which in this case propels the ship forward, Dahl says. The wings are stiff but can be rotated and adjusted to catch the wind depending on where the wind is blowing, and can be folded and stored near the ship’s deck when approaching the dock.