Hybrid sailing to reduce the use of fossil fuels in the maritime transportation sector

Panel: 4. Mobility, transport, and smart and sustainable cities

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Antoine Bonduelle, E&E Consultant SARL, France
Christophe Rynikievicz, SPRU, Germany
Daniel Neumann, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht (HZG), Germany

Abstract

Oil consumption is a challenge for the international shipping industry. Heavy fuel represents often over half of operating costs, and is a major source of GHG emissions and pollutants. Many recent projects aim to replace part of this fuel, through the use of gaseous or other alternative fuels or even solar panels. An ancient renewable technology is also regaining more attention: the mechanical use of wind thrust in WASP (Wind Assisted Ship Propulsion).

The paper reviews the technical innovations that enable wind propulsion again as a complement to traditional fuels. These consist of automation of sails or other technologies to convert wind force to propulsion, but also routing systems which now allow optimization of the operation of transport lines and generally automation and information systems. Several wind-assisted ship configurations are now operational but their economics have not been demonstrated yet.

Then hypothesis are discussed of possible savings and drawbacks of options to compare hybrid sailing solutions with other alternatives parameters of freight transport. For example, the case of a calculated economic balance of a medium size ship (3 000 tons) transporting bulk freight, could bring fuel savings between 15% and 35% in well-chosen routes.

Finally, elements of a roadmap are developed. This comprises both evolutionary developments from existing systems and commercial practice. Some possible innovations allow more routes or freight types to be transported with sails in the future. They may extend the use of sails beyond niche markets such as “zero carbon” commodities, or the service of remote islands and shores not connected with major shipping routes.

The paper relies on work in progress in the course of the S@IL project. S@IL (Sustainable Approaches and Innovative Liaisons) is a European INTERREG program linking research teams, harbours, NGOs and freight professionals across the North Sea Region, in particular from The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Sweden and Denmark. It will end by mid-2015. It is led by the Fryslan Province (NL). The authors at E&E Consultant (Cassel, France) are involved in economic evaluation in the project.