Harnessing the winds to propel ships around the world has been a successful form of renewable energy for hundreds of years. While it fell out of favor over century ago due to its unpredictable nature and the rise of alternative fuels, a new company called Skysails is reintroducing the concept to tankers and ocean transport mammoths looking to cut costs, reduce energy consumption, and put a little green in their portfolios. They will start next month by attaching a $725,000 computer-controlled kite to a 443ft German cargo ship as it sails across the Atlantic to Venezuela, up to Boston and back to Europe. From the article,
“To latch onto the powerful winds prevailing well above the surface, the kite attached to the high-tech steerage unit flies up to 300 meters high to tug the 10,000-tonne ship forward, supporting its diesel engines and cutting fuel consumption.
Under favorable wind conditions, the 160-square meter kite shaped like a paraglider is expected to reduce fuel costs by up to 20 percent or more ($1,600 per day) and cut, by a similarly significant amount, its carbon dioxide emissions.”
Obviously, Skysails isn’t the only watching the maiden voyage with anticipation. The maritime industry as a whole is especially interested in technology that can reduce fuel costs in a time when prices are rising substantially. If everything goes as planned, the company will equip 4-8 ships next year — and up to 1,500 by 2015.
Sure, it’s a drop in the bucket when you consider the more than 50,000 merchant ships sailing the high seas every year transporting goods; but it’s an important alternative that may prove to be a wise investment for large fleets and a stepping stone to increased efficiency in moving cargo around the world. Stay tuned for updates on the total savings and impressions!
via reuters
13 Comments
There is another invention called a SAILBOAT.
Wow. I can’t wait to hook my car up to my horse too! I doubt this idea will sail with the accountants… What happens when the wind changes direction suddenly? Can you just imagine having to stop for hours to pull a $750K sail out of the salt water, clean it and sow it?! Next…
I didn’t know sails were an advent of the digital era. Great job to those reinventing what Europe did centuries ago.
it blows!!
So,I’m taking that winds never cease on the oceans? heh, Pretty neato idea. I’m glad we are starting to wean ourselves off the oil industry.
Folks-
Isn’t this about time, there are so many uses for what comes to us first as sunlight and becomes the energy that fills this planet with life. Rain/wind/snow/glaciers/tides/wave- and on. How about ferry systems in bays like the San Fransisco Bay using very large catamarans- high speed rail that runs down the center of freeways(the right of way is already public property)that runs on wind and various types of green generated electricity. Cars that are either electric or pressurized air. Plastics that we don’t throw out— that are engineered to use over and over———- remember we can’t throw anything out unless we put it out beyond the earth’s orbit— that is to say all the garbage we ever created is still right here with us!
HA! I showed my fiance and he said “isn’t that just a sail?” and I couldn’t help but concur. I think it’s great that it will save on fuel costs but what about practicality? What if the winds die down? How much will they spend on repair and collection of the “kite”? Why not just use a sail (I know that a sail would take differently trained crews and space upon the freighter but meh…) anywho, neat but not quite good enough, surely someone has a better idea
If we can use simple, updated old technology to supplement our modern life and improve its efficiency and ecological safety, why wouldn’t we?
To all of you nay-sayers: It is highly efficient, safe to use, and very modern technology. And yes the Wind is about a constant at sea, because the kite can reach hights a lot higher than normal sails. It is pretty unimportant from where the wind comes, as long as it is within a 90° range to the left and right. (Basics of sailing) Also you might want to think, that if they’ve seriously thought through this thing, they have a method of getting it down.
By the way. This kite is not just an idea, its already in testing and so far it is scoring impressive results
some dutch company started this years ago. (saw it on TV).
no it is not a sailboat
the trick is the thing is 100’s of mtrs up in the air where there are very constant continental airflows (so no it doesn’t die down).
they get it down using a big fully automated winch (don’t really have to be einstein to figure that one out)
so there’s no need for a trained crew to operate it it’s all computerguided
and yes it works great on feul reduction.
Never knock an old fashioned idea idea. In the past sales were a completely green power source. It is not my intention to take any of the wind out of anyone’s sails (pun) but I do not see this as the answer to ocean travel. One of the offshoots of my new invention for creating electricity is a power source that would be perfect for the propulsion of ocean going vessels. This would not save $1600.00 in fuel per day, rather it would save all the fuel that these ships use.
Yeah sure Steven. Shall I praise your name now? Come on, you didn’t even write a link or anything that lets me to believe that you have invented anything. Furthermore I think you are an Idiot, solemnly based on the fact that you don’t put any arguments in your view and use a freaking COMMENT to push your ego with your “invention”. To quote N.Dynamite:”Jeez… Idiot!”
Steven “Carew” Crum, is that you with your crazy blatherings about a free energy source again???? Changing your last name does not make your make believe invention a reality.