US-headed global agri-commodities processor Cargill Inc. has revealed the results of a six-month test period of the Pyxis Ocean, underscoring the potential for wind-assisted propulsion technology in moving the shipping industry toward renewable energy use.
WindWings are large solid windsails developed by UK-headed wind-assisted propulsion (WAP) technology developer BAR Technologies Ltd and part of a project that has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program.
Retrofitted with two WindWings
The MC Shipping Kamsarmax dry bulk vessel Pyxis Ocean, chartered by Cargill, was retrofitted with two WindWings at COSCO in Shanghai, China in 2023.
These measure 37.5 metres in height and resemble large airplane wings. The wings are installed vertically to catch the wind and propel the ship forward, allowing the ship’s engine to be turned down so that the ship can travel at the same speed as a conventional ship using less fuel.
The wings are controlled by a touch panel on the bridge. A simple traffic light system tells the crew when to raise or lower the sails.
Once raised, the operation is fully automated: sensors onboard constantly measure the wind, and the sails self-adjust to the optimal configuration.
Double-digit emissions reduction
The Pyxis Ocean hit open waters in August 2023 and during the first six months of testing, it has sailed the Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, North and South Atlantic, and passed Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope.
BAR Technologies and Cargill estimate an annual average savings of 3 tonnes of fuel reductions per day. This equates to 11.2 tonnes per day of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq) well-to-wake emissions reductions, roughly 14 percent savings on Pyxis Ocean.
During optimal sailing conditions, the Pyxis Ocean achieved savings of more than 11 tonnes per day in fuel consumption. This translates to 41 tonnes per day less CO2eq emitted well-to-wake or a 37 percent emissions savings.
The average performance measured so far is within 10 percent of predictions made using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations by BAR Technologies to estimate how well wind-assisted propulsion would work on Cargill routes.
We are encouraged by the results and have learned a great deal about implementing wind-assisted propulsion on dry bulk vessels. We could never have done this alone – BAR Technologies and MC Shipping have been fantastic partners in making the Pyxis Ocean a reality as well as the captain and crew. We are on the leading edge of change in the shipping industry and believe technologies that harness the wind could be an important, cost-effective way to achieve our decarbonization goals in the short, medium, and long term, said Jan Dieleman, President of Cargill Ocean Transportation.
Cargill and MC Shipping have engaged DNV as an independent third party to review and verify the fuel savings calculations.
Address logistical challenges for WAP
According to the parties, wind-assisted propulsion (WAP) has the potential to be a cost-efficient way of supporting the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) new greenhouse gas (GHG) strategy.
One of the IMO 2030 targets is to have 5 percent, striving for 10 percent, of very low-carbon energy sources by 2030: wind-assisted propulsion could be an important way of achieving this.
The early voyages have provided insight into more than just the application of the sails on a vessel, it has also highlighted broader logistical challenges in the global maritime system.
Given that every port, terminal, and berth is different, their involvement is critical for integrating WAP technology into the global maritime system on a wider scale.
The results of the Pyxis Ocean’s first voyage with WindWings installed clearly demonstrate that wind-assisted propulsion can secure significant fuel savings and emissions reduction. For example, in near optimum sailing conditions, during an open sea voyage, the Pyxis Ocean achieved fuel savings of 11 tonnes per day. And while the Pyxis Ocean has two WindWings, we anticipate the majority of Kamsarmax vessels will carry three wings, further increasing the fuel savings and emissions reductions by a factor of 1.5. With Cargill now able to validate our performance predictions and modeling in real-world conditions, it’s an exciting time as we begin to roll out WindWings production globally, said John Cooper, CEO of BAR Technologies.
Cargill will continue the testing and experimenting of operational, technical, and commercial aspects of the Pyxis Ocean to incorporate the maximum amount of learning into the potential design of future installations before scaling up.
Cargill is creating ways for all WAP vessels – not just the Pyxis Ocean – to operate on global trade routes. So far, we’ve engaged with more than 250 ports to find ways of enabling vessels with large-scale WAP to berth. This complexity is where Cargill truly excels, and how we can leverage our unique role in the maritime industry. We are not afraid to be a development partner and invest, share risks with partners, and make a difference in transforming the industry, ended Jan Dieleman.
