Giant Wind Sails to Propel Oil Tankers, Reducing Carbon Emissions Equivalent to 500 Vehicles
In a significant stride towards reducing carbon emissions in the maritime industry, the WindWings propulsion system is set to become an industry standard. This innovative technology, which harnesses wind power to significantly cut fuel consumption, will be installed on two new LR2 dual-fuel tankers, the Suzuka and Long Beach, marking a large-scale wind propulsion deployment for this vessel class.
Each tanker will be equipped with two large 37.5-meter WindWings units, providing an average fuel savings of about 3 tonnes per day. This reduction in fuel use translates to approximately 2,300 tonnes less CO2 emissions annually per tanker, equivalent to removing over 500 conventional passenger cars from the road.
The WindWings tankers, which will sail under the Marshall Islands flag and be classed by Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore, are designed to meet rigorous international standards for safety and performance. The project, which is expected to shift wind-assisted propulsion from trial to industry standard, offers a practical, scalable tool for maritime decarbonization, improving operational efficiency, and enabling early compliance with IMO 2030 emissions reduction targets.
The WindWings propulsion system is based on Bernoulli's principle, similar to that used in commercial aviation. This principle, discovered by Swiss mathematician Daniel Bernoulli in the 18th century, explains how moving air creates pressure. In the case of WindWings, the sails capture the wind, creating a low-pressure area on the back, which in turn propels the ship forward.
The initiative follows after successfully integrating the propulsion system on the Brands Hatch, a tanker operated by Union Maritime Ltd (UML). The vessels, 820-feet-long (250 meters), are commonly used to transport refined petroleum and chemicals. The construction of the WindWings tankers is set to begin with a steel-cutting ceremony in November 2025, with delivery expected in early 2027.
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[1] https://www.windwings.energy/ [2] https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/windwings-propulsion-system-to-be-installed-on-two-new-lr2-dual-fuel-tankers [3] https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/windwings-propulsion-system-to-cut-2300-tons-of-co2-annually [4] https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/windwings-propulsion-system-to-shift-wind-assisted-propulsion-from-trial-to-industry-standard-in-maritime-sustainability [5] https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/windwings-propulsion-system-to-improve-operational-efficiency-and-enable-early-compliance-with-imo-2030-emissions-reduction-targets
- The WindWings propulsion system, a significant innovation in technology, aims to become a standard in the maritime industry, helping to reduce carbon emissions.
- Science plays a crucial role in the WindWings propulsion system, as it is based on Bernoulli's principle, which was discovered by Daniel Bernoulli in the 18th century.
- The maritime industry is embracing innovation with the deployment of WindWings on two new LR2 dual-fuel tankers, the Suzuka and Long Beach, a step towards industry-standard wind propulsion.
- The WindWings technology, when installed, is expected to save an average of 3 tonnes of fuel per day per tanker, contributing to a significant reduction in CO2 emissions.
- The WindWings propulsion system, with its potential for decarbonization and improved operational efficiency, aligns with the IMO 2030 emissions reduction targets, making it a practical tool for environmental-science-focused finance and the energy sector.
(References: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5])
