EnergySail design process completed

The EnergySail is intended to reduce fuel costs and noxious gas and carbon emissions for ships. The sail can provide ships with a renewable energy platform through the use of fitted solar panels and wind power devices. Its rigid design can endure high winds and sudden bursts, allowing vessels to utilise the power of the wind.

Greg Atkinson, director of research and design, Eco Marine Power, said: “We spent a lot of time during the design phase focused on incorporating safety features into the EnergySail and also making it flexible in terms of being easy to re-configure or upgrade the device. Wind and solar power technologies will improve during a ship’s operational lifespan so in our view it was critical that the EnergySail can be easily upgradable.”

EMP designed the sail so the number and type of solar panels can be easily changed and the sail can be easily upgraded.

The company says that it can be used by a wide variety of ships from large bulk carriers to naval and coastguard patrol ships when a ship is at anchor or in port. An adaptation of the EnergySail is being developed for unmanned surface vessels (USV’s) and smaller ships such as passenger ferries or fishing vessels.