- Image by Tidewater Muse via Flickr
A German company called SkySails GmbH & Co. KG is helping cargo ships go green with a system called towing kite systems, a wind propulsion mechanism based on large towing kites.
The company says that depending on the prevailing wind conditions, a ship’s average annual fuel costs can be reduced by 10 to 35% by using its kite system. Under optimal wind conditions, fuel consumption can temporarily be reduced by 50%.
This is good news for the environment, as maritime carbon dioxide emissions account for 5% of the total. The company received the Technology Clean Tech award in 2008 in recognition for its work in the shipping sector.
Currently, SkySails offers towing kite propulsion systems for cargo vessels with an effective load of between 8 and 16 tons, but it says that it plans to increase its capacity to 32 tons in 2012 and that its planned product program comprises towing kite propulsion systems with an effective load of up to 130 tons.
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I think this a great idea 🙂