Project Summary
Large waves can significantly affect the speed and safety of cargo ships and contribute to increased fuel use and carbon emissions. To address this issue, G-TRANSPORT will be looking at using hydrofoils to stabilise the ship and harness the power of green waves for propulsion. This innovative approach can make ships more stable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly. By reducing the impact of waves on the vessel, hydrofoils can improve efficiency and reduce fuel consumption, while generating propulsion from green waves can enable zero-emission travel. Adopting such technologies can be a game-changer for the maritime industry and support the transition towards sustainable shipping.
Project Achievements
Our team’s extensive feasibility study shows our proposed technology can achieve a significant 20% fuel reduction in the target maritime market. This breakthrough is vital for cargo ship efficiency and combating carbon emissions in the industry. Our technology has advanced steadily on the Technology Readiness Level scale, with a successful lab demonstration as a key milestone. We’ve also published two influential papers on wave-devouring propulsion to share our progress and research impact.
Conclusions
We are confident that wave-devouring propulsion technology represents a promising and effective approach for addressing the urgent challenge of marine decarbonisation. Our research endeavours in this field have yielded substantial evidence supporting the viability of wave-devouring propulsion. Both extensive numerical simulations and rigorous experimental studies have consistently demonstrated a remarkable 20% reduction in fuel consumption when employing this technology.
Next Steps
We have collaborated with the Technology Transfer Officer (TTO) at Cranfield University to advance the technology to higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) and commercialise it. We have utilized various channels, including the company’s website, digital media platforms, and social media, to reach a broader audience. Additionally, we are engaging with other shipping companies to secure further funding through the CMDC4 pro ject, which involves four other companies and another academic institution.
