ETI to launch new project to develop flettner rotor sails for ships which could improve fuel efficiency by at least 10%
Energy Technologies Institute
The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) is seeking partners for a new project which it hopes will deliver fuel savings of at least 10% for large shipping vessels.
- Expressions of interest sought from organisations to take part in a project to design, supply, fit and demonstrate flettner rotor sail technology on a large ocean going vessel to be sourced by the ETI
- The ETI project is part of the marine element of its Heavy Duty Vehicles efficiency programme
- Expressions of interest should be submitted to the ETI by 15 April 2016. The deadline for notification of intention to submit a proposal is 31 March 2016.
The Flettner Rotor Supply, Install and Commission Project will deliver a full scale demonstrator of Flettner Rotor technology on a large ocean going vessel which the ETI intends to source for the demonstration phase.
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, with at least two vessels trialing the technology in recent years. The ETI project will be the first demonstration on such a large vessel and will provide valuable insights into real world fuel savings and ease of operation.
The Expression of Interest aims to identify organisations capable of providing flettner rotor technology for a large internationally traded ship. The ETI intends to use the EoI submissions to select a preferred technology provider capable of moving to the shaping phase of a full scale demonstration project.
Respondents will need to set out how their technology will deliver fuel savings of at least 10% and also how they would design, supply, install, commission, test and then support flettner rotor vessel installation. At sea testing of the performance of the flettner rotor installation will take place for at least one year after installation.
Andrew Scott , manager for the ETI’s Flettner Rotor Supply, Install and Commission Project 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 around the world reducing fuel consumption in ships of between 7 and 15%.
“However, there has been insufficient full scale demonstration on 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.”
The Expression of Interest for the Flettner Rotor Supply and Fit Project will close on 15 April 2016. The deadline for notification of intention to submit a proposal is 31 March 2016.
It can be viewed at http://www.eti.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/HDV-Flettner-EOI-final-v2-0-March-2016.pdf
Heavy duty vehicles (HDV) including shipping, heavy goods vehicles (HGV) and construction equipment currently contribute in excess of 8% of UK CO2 emissions, but that proportion is set to increase as other industrial sectors reduce CO2 emissions.
Apart from bio-fuels, the low carbon options for replacing fossil fuels as an energy source for HDV applications are limited. Therefore improving their fuel efficiency becomes increasingly important to the future affordability, security and sustainability of HDV operation in the UK.
The ETI will also shortly launch two new Requests for Proposals in the marine element of its Heavy Duty Vehicles efficiency programme for partners to design and demonstrate a high efficiency propulsion system and a waste heat recovery system which could further reduce emissions from shipping.
