ETI launches flettner rotor project

The Flettner Rotor Supply, Install and Commission project aims to deliver a full-scale demonstration of flettner rotor technology on a large ocean-going vessel.

Project manager, Andrew Scott, said: “This is a project to design, develop and fit flettner rotor blades – effectively mechanical sails – which will then be demonstrated and tested at sea in real life conditions.

“Studies have shown that flettner blades could be beneficial in certain sea conditions reducing fuel consumption by between 7 and 15%. However there has been insufficient full scale demonstration of a suitable marine vessel to prove the technology benefits. Successfully demonstrating this would make the technology more attractive to shipping companies and investors.

“The technology, if proved successful, could also be retrofitted to existing shipping fleets and play a significant role in reducing the fuel costs, so improving environmental impact,” he added.

Flettner rotors use a spinning cylinder to convert the force of the wind into thrust that helps propel the ship. Flettner sail rotors have been demonstrated on ships since the 1920s but this project will be the first demonstration on such a large vessel.

Interested companies will need to set out how their technology will deliver fuel savings of at least 10% and how they would design, supply, install, commission, test and support the technology. Sea testing of the performance of the installation will take place for at least 12 months following inception.

The Expression of Interest for the project will close on 15 April and the deadline for notification of intention to submit a proposal is 31 March. Details can be found on the ETI website.