Set Sail for a Green Future

Diane Gilpin, CEO of Smart Green Shipping, explains why betting on wind beats fossil fuels for reliable returns in maritime transport.

The misconception that wind is unpredictable and therefore an impossible alternative to fossil fuels, has meant the maritime industry and investors continue to underestimate this primary renewable energy. But modern wind-assist technology in tandem with the latest in route optimisation software – taking into account historical and real-time weather forecasts and data – means we have the ability to predict when and how the wind will blow, bringing wind into the 21st century.

Fossil fuels are subject to volatile commodity market price fluctuations and are of course extremely harmful to the environment. Yet, the world remains heavily reliant on them. We are living in a climate emergency and it has never been more urgent to find solutions to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.

Wind is, crucially, free and abundant for everyone. It’s encouraging to see new developments in wind propulsion technology, like retrofittable wing sails. These sails augment existing fuel-powered engines to save on fuel costs, allowing ship owners and charterers to improve commercial resilience and reduce emissions. The technology’s readiness and compatibility with existing fleets also mean faster ROI for investors. So why does wind fall down the pecking order when it comes to the question of reliable alternatives to fossil fuels for the shipping industry?

Unattainable sustainable fuels

Alternative or ‘green’ fuels like ammonia and hydrogen attract significant attention when the discussion turns to reducing emissions in the shipping industry. While these fuels hold promise, they can be anywhere in the magnitude of three to six times more expensive. Ammonia in particular, raises serious concerns regarding its handling, with its extreme toxicity and the lifecycle emissions associated with production.

Additionally, these fuels are not simple drop-in replacements. Transitioning to them requires substantial investment to either build new ships or retrofit existing engines to accommodate these new and less energy-dense fuels. This would, in turn, mean larger fuel tanks, reducing valuable cargo space. Moreover, considerable funding will be needed to develop land-based fuel storage and refuelling infrastructure.

There is also still no consensus on the ‘best’ alternative fuel and we’re still a long way from current supply levels of these alternative fuels being able to meet demand. Compounding the issue, shipping won’t be the only sector competing for alternative fuels and ship owners will once again have to contend with scarce supply and market volatility as they do now with fossil fuels.

As such, ‘green’ fuels don’t currently stack up economically, yet they receive significant amounts of investment and are misleadingly positioned as the primary means to lower emissions. Instead, wind is an immediate solution that can be utilised now, generating faster and more reliable returns for investors.

21st century wind power

Wind power in the 21st century offers a fundamentally different approach compared to alternative fuels. Once a ship is equipped with the necessary technology to harness wind energy, there are no ongoing usage costs, as wind is freely and exclusively available at the point of use for wind-assisted vessels. This provides investors and ship owners or charterers greater confidence amid uncertain energy futures, offering a level of autonomy by partially disconnecting their fuel needs from volatile commodity markets.

New developments in wind propulsion – like lightweight, retractable and easily retrofittable wingsails – are making retrofit wind power an immediate, viable solution for today’s ships. Modern automated wingsails can be used alongside route optimisation technology to plot the best route to take advantage of wind conditions, cutting fuel consumption by up to 30%.

Naysayers might argue that adding huge sails to ships that haven’t been designed to support them could present stability issues, but wind-assist technology has received approval from all the world’s classification societies, proving its external validation. A wingsail, like Smart Green Shipping’s FastRig, is retrofittable and made of extremely lightweight aluminium, meaning that 60 additional tonnes on a 80,000 deadweight tonnage ship is negligible.

It’s also important to remember that compared to sails, engines are complex. However, specialist engineers are critical members of the crew, employed to maintain and optimise performance. This is an accepted cost. Wingsails are vastly simpler than a combustion engine and bringing wind into the modern era means they can be automated, so there’s no need for additional crew members to maintain them.

Emergency means immediacy

Globally, the shipping fleet consists of approximately 60,000 vessels, and the UK’s Department for Transport estimates that nearly two-thirds of these are well-suited for retrofittable wind-assist technologies. To drive the adoption of solutions like this, we must present an undeniable economic case for investors and stakeholders – and wind propulsion technology fits perfectly.

Independent analysis and verification of new technologies like modern wingsails are crucial to gain trust. That’s why we’ve conducted structured, scientific sea trials to verify the safety and robustness, the fuel savings performance and the crew’s acceptance of our technology as an important milestone on the route to commercial installations. We are now armed with the data, real-world experience and independent verification for any shipowner or charterer we engage with, which has led to commitments from customers to deploy our tech.

By retrofitting existing ships with wind-assist technology, which we have proven can be installed and uninstalled in a matter of weeks, shipowners can extend the lifespan of their current fleets without the need to invest in new vessels. For investors, this translates into minimised risk, faster ROI, and alignment with sustainability-driven market trends.

We cannot afford to wait for regulations or alternative fuels to catch up when wind optimisation technologies are readily available and easy to implement. Backing these solutions positions investors at the forefront of maritime decarbonisation. This is not just a response to climate urgency; it’s a strategic move to lead in a market poised for growth.

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