Wind-powered shipping uses wind power to help propel ships, which can reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Wind is a renewable energy source that's free and inexhaustible. 

Wind-powered ships use wind to help propel the ship forward, reducing the need for fuel and emissions. 

How they work

• Seawings: Developed by Airseas, these sails can help ships reduce carbon emissions by up to 20% 

• Rotors: Vertical cylinders that spin with the wind to create forward motion 

• Nonrotating suction wings: Use vents and internal fans to create propulsion 

• WindWings: Large, rigid sails that resemble airplane wings, installed vertically to catch the wind 

Benefits Can reduce fuel consumption and emissions, Can be retrofitted to existing ships, and Can be cost-effective. Benefits of wind-powered shipping

• Reduces fuel consumption

  Wind-powered ships can use less fuel, which can save money and reduce operating costs 

• Reduces emissions

  Wind-powered ships can produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions, which can help the shipping industry decarbonize 

• Efficient alternative to diesel engines

  Wind-powered ships can be an efficient alternative to diesel engines, which are responsible for a large portion of the shipping industry's emissions 

Examples of wind-powered ships

• Wind Challenger: A wind-assisted ship propulsion system developed by MOL 
• WindWings: A wind-powered cargo ship that set sail in 2023 
• Oceanbird: A transatlantic car carrier that will be fitted with rigid sails 
• Cargill's wind-powered ship: A ship with 37.5 meter high sails that's being developed by Cargill 
• Pyxis Ocean: A cargo ship chartered by Cargill that was retrofitted with WindWings sails in 2023 

Challenges 

• Streamlining the certification process for new wind-powered ships

• Securing funding to develop new technologies

Organizations involved in wind-powered shipping

• International Windship Association: A not-for-profit organization that focuses on the benefits of wind propulsion 
• BAR Technologies: A company that developed the WindWings cargo ship