New British wind propulsion tech readies for market

The UK is leading many of the world’s wind propulsion efforts in shipping with new tech coming to market. 

Bristol-based maritime engineering start-up WingTek, in collaboration with the National Composites Centre and the University of Bristol, has just won a £2.2m ($2.8m) innovation grant to develop the WingTek Wingsail (pictured above), something its backers claim can easily be retrofitted easily to existing commercial vessels as well as newbuilds. 

The project will deliver two full-size operational prototypes, one on-shore for long-term testing and development and a second unit installed on a commercial UK vessel for sea-trials, with the project scheduled to complete by March 2025.

Meanwhile, Smart Green Shipping, another UK wind propulsion specialist, has started on-land testing of its FastRig technology, an aluminium wingsail (pictured below) whose backers claim can reduce shipping emissions by up to 30%.

FastRig will undergo its on-land tests at Hunterston in Scotland before commencing on-ship trials later this year.

Diane Gilpin, founder and CEO of Smart Green Shipping, said: “Over the past year, wind power has finally become a key part of the emission reduction conversation in the shipping industry as the need to decarbonise to remain compliant is embraced. Wind is the obvious solution – it’s abundant, freely and exclusively available to any ship equipped to harness it. Unlike other greening solutions, wind-assist saves money.”

BAR Technologies, Anemoi and Oceanfoil are three other existing British wind propulsion specialists, selling their technology around the world while the sector’s global lobby group, the International Windship Association, is also headquartered in the UK.