The Viking Grace with Norsepower's Rotor Sail in operation. Image courtesy of Norsepower
Norsepower Oy, the leading provider of low-maintenance, software operated wind propulsion systems, is one of five winners of the 2018 WWF Climate Solver Nordic Award — the only shipping company among this year’s winners.
The award was given to five organization from Nordic countries who were recognized for their innovative technologies that have the potential to dramatically reduce carbon emissions or increase access to energy around the globe.
Norsepower has been honoured as a Nordic Climate Solver for its climate potential to gain further commercial success with wind-assisted propulsion technology for international shipping.
Read the “Green Shipping to the Fore” technical paper — outlining forthcoming green initiatives in the industry
Norsepower’s Rotor Sail Solution is a modernised version of the Flettner rotor which uses the Magnus effect to harness wind energy into forward propulsion – allowing the ships main engines to be throttled back, thereby reducing fuel consumption.
Applicable particularly to passenger, tanker, general cargo and RoRo vessels, Norsepower estimates that if 20,000 existing ships were retrofitted with its Rotor Sail Solution technology, it would equate to a circa 5% reduction in total carbon emissions from the global fleet.
Upcoming technical paper alert:
Norsepower has written an upcoming technical paper with Port Technology on their revolutionary Rotor Sail technology explaining the operational benefits of implementing the sail, along with case studies of its implementation on the ro-ro vessel the M/S Estraden, and the Maersk P-Class Tanker.
The article explains, in regard to the M/S Estraden, that “the average fuel savings achieved with two Rotor Sails in the North Sea traffic has been approximately 6% – equating to circa 400 tonnes per year in reduced fuel, and more than $250,000 per year in reduced fuel costs (based upon Rotterdam May 2018 MGO prices).”
WWF’s Climate Solver Award has been held since 2008, honouring climate innovations for over 100 companies that have made positive environmental contributions across the globe — including Nordic countries, China, India and South Africa.
CEO of Norsepower, Tuomas Riski, said: “We are honoured to have been recognized as one of this year’s five WWF Climate Solver honourees.
“With existing and forthcoming environmental regulations, the shipping industry remains under increasing pressure to play its part in global decarbonisation efforts.
“We are proud to be pioneering a technology which is contributing to a cleaner, more efficient, and sustainable maritime industry.
“I would like to congratulate my fellow honourees and wish them every success as Climate Solvers in their respective sectors.”
The M/S Estraden, equipped with two Rotor Sails. Image courtesy of Norsepower
Last month, Norsepower’s technology was installed onboard the M/S Viking Grace, making her the first passenger ship in the world using auxiliary wind propulsion.
Separately, Norsepower is currently collaborating on a project with Maersk Tankers, The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI), and Shell Shipping & Maritime to supply a 109,647-deadweight tonne (DWT) Long Range 2 (LR2) Maersk-owned product tanker vessel with two 30m tall by 5m diameter Rotor Sails.
