EU Funds Development of Wind-Powered Cargo Ship: Sailing into the Future

January 27, 2023 By Aaem Joshi

(Image Credit Google)

The European Union is investing in new technology to reduce the carbon footprint of the shipping industry. Wallenius Wilhelmsen, a shipping company, will receive an initial €9 million fund from Horizon Europe funding to research and develop a new type of cargo ship that relies on sails to transport vehicles around the world. The ship, known as the Orcelle Wind, is expected to set sail as early as 2026, transporting electric vehicles from Volvo, one of the partner companies involved in the project. However, the timeline for the project is highly dependent on overcoming technical challenges and finding a viable business case for the vessel. The Orcelle Wind is expected to be around 220 meters in length, with an estimated width of 40 meters and a capacity of 7,000 vehicles. It will be able to travel at speeds of up to 10-12 knots when relying on its sails alone, but it could also have an onboard supplemental power system for use in unfavorable weather conditions. The goal is to rely on the sails the majority of the time, and Wallenius estimates that the wind-powered ship could reduce emissions by up to 90% compared to the most efficient cargo ships currently in use. oceanbird wind powered ship

The Orcelle project has been ongoing since 2021 and involves 11 different companies contributing their expertise to the project. The grant from the EU's Horizon fund will mostly go towards the R&D required to prove that the Orcelle Wind is suitable for commercial use as a roll-on roll-off cargo ship. Part of that testing will involve rigging a "wing sail test rig on an existing Wallenius Wilhelmsen vessel during mid-2024." The EU's funding is the latest vote of confidence in the Orcelle project, which could one day help the shipping industry greatly reduce its carbon footprint. In conclusion, the European Union is investing in new technology that could help the shipping industry reduce its carbon footprint by developing a cargo ship that relies on sails. Wallenius Wilhelmsen, a shipping company, has been awarded an €9 million grant to research and develop a new type of cargo ship, known as the Orcelle Wind. The ship is expected to set sail as early as 2026, transporting electric vehicles from Volvo, one of the partner companies involved in the project. The goal of the project is to rely on the sails the majority of the time and reduce emissions by up to 90% compared to the most efficient cargo ships currently in use.

By Aaem Joshi

I am a Journalist who loves digging up stories that remain unheard. Strongly Believe in the knowledge of the social world.

EU Funds Development of Wind-Powered Cargo Ship: Sailing into the Future

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