EU funding for wind-assisted retrofit project

The four-year WHISPER project intends to retrofit AYRO’s windsail system alongside Solbian’s photovoltaic panels and an Icelandic energy-saving technology, Sidewind’s open-sided containerised energy generation technology. The project aims to achieve fuel consumption savings of up to 30% for the bulker and 15% for container vessel.

The Motorship notes Solbian’s PV panels were installed aboard M/V Paolo Topic.

The project application was led by Inspiralia Gmbh, while the project will be coordinated by Verkis. The project brings together 14 partners, including AYRO, Lloyd’s Register, Sidewind and Solbian, alongside Samskip, Nav-Tech and Stirling Design International.

“In the current context of fuel price volatility and the increasingly stringent environmental regulations with the implementation of the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) this year for the maritime industry, we see the WHISPER project as a catalyst for retrofitting the commercial vessels with breakthrough green technologies,” Marc Van Peteghem, chairman and co-founder of AYRO.

Van Peteghem added that the project will enable AYRO to launch its first tiltable Oceanwings, addressing new segments such as bulk carriers.