Project Summary

GT Green Technologies is a UK based startup developing innovative technologies to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions for commercial shipping applications. Its flagship technology is a novel wind propulsion system named AirWing™ which is capable of reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions for commercial vessels by between 10%-30%. AirWing provides the highest achievable fuel savings whilst critically minimising impact on the operation of the vessel, making it an ideal solution for retrofit applications for vessels with cluttered deck layouts. GT Green Technologies holds a growing team of talented engineers and naval architects as well as establishing major strategic partnerships within the industry.

Project Achievements

The project’s focus w as to verify that the design of AirWing is feasible, achievable, and contains no show stoppers that may prevent further design development. The project verified that the design w as suitable for use in all life cycle phases, such as, design, manufacturing, transportation, installation, operation and, maintenance. A manufacturability assessment w as conducted using The Manufacturing Technology Centre’s (MTC’s) Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DFMA) method. Based on design requirements, design maturity and relevant material criteria, this identified the most suitable methods to manufacture AirWing parts. A modular design approach w as also utilised to reduce AirWing design, manufacturing, assembly, installation, and servicing costs. A key achievement of the project w as collaboration w ith Carisbrooke Shipping (UK). GT has recently installed a mast on a Carisbrooke Shipping Vectis 11k vessel to obtain w ind data prior to full-scale installation. Demonstration is scheduled for H2 2024. The primary aim is to assess AirWing’s operational efficiency. Data from the demonstration w ill be used to quantify the potential reductions in fuel consumption in various w eather conditions, sea states, and ship operating points. This w ill be used to derive reductions in GHG emissions associated w ith AirWing fuel abatement and w ill be a crucial step tow ards AirWing commercialisation.

Conclusions

TRIG funding has allow ed GT green technologies to gain successful AIP from BV. This indicates that there are no technical show stoppers to prevent further development of AirWing. Furthermore, this indicates that the design is suitable for use in all phases of operation including design, manufacturing, transportation, installation, operation, and maintenance. In response to feedback from BV, w here necessary, design adjustments for regulatory approval w ill be established and actions taken to mitigate any issues.

Next Steps

Being on the TRIG programme has given GT the opportunity to develop and w ork tow ards gaining AirWing class approval in principle (A IP) from Bureau Veritas (BV). BV are a third-party examiner w ho w ill assess regulatory compliance of AirWing from a structural, operational, and technical perspective and ensure no major obstacles prevent AirWing commercialisation. Follow ing successful AIP from BV, GT’s next step tow ards commercialising AirWing is a full-scale demonstration on board a vessel. This is planned to take place on a Carisbrooke Shipping Vectis 11k vessel in the second half of 2024. GT is also in the process of reaching out to vessel ow ners to raise AirWing customer aw areness. Since doing this, GT has most recently received interest from Union Maritime, Zodiac Maritime, Star Bulk and Pacific Basin. How ever, Zodiac Maritime, as w ell as other previous vessel ow ners have expressed the need to see data from a demonstration project before further considering using the new technology.

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