Design starts on wind-solar ship

26/09/2011

Eco Marine Power’s Aquarius system combines rigid sails with solar cells for auxiliary propulsion Japanese company Eco Marine Power has started detailed design of its wind and solar sail panel.

Eco Marine Power’s Aquarius system combines rigid sails with solar cells for auxiliary propulsion Japanese company Eco Marine Power has started detailed design of its wind and solar sail panel. The company and its partners intend these to be used in arrays for auxiliary propulsion of large ships.

Thanks to new technological developments, Eco Marine Power says it is now possible to combine rigid sails with photovoltaic cells, enabling their use in harnessing wind and solar energy which will then be used to help power a ship thereby reducing fuel consumption and the emission of harmful gases. The rigid sails are being developed by Eco Marine Power in co-operation with a number of development partners. The array of rigid sails will allow ships to tap into renewable energy at sea, at anchor or even when a ship is in harbour. Each sail panel will be positioned by a computer control system being developed by KEI System of Osaka, and the sails can be lowered and stored when not it use. When wind conditions are not favourable they can be positioned to offer little wind resistance and still collect solar energy.

According to the company, using solar modules mounted on a rigid but movable sail panel offers many advantages over simply mounting solar panels on the deck of ship and Eco Marine Power believes its system, known as Aquarius, could offer an attractive return on investment for shipping companies. The scalability of the Aquarius system means that the same basic design can be used on a variety of ship types and sizes.

Eco Marine Power, based in Fukuoka, says it develops innovative eco-friendly solar, wind, electric and hybrid marine power and propulsion solutions. The company designs eco-friendly ship concepts that incorporate green energy technology and is currently working design projects including including the solar-electric hybrid marine power (HMP) vessel Tonbo and eco-solar ferry Medaka.

motorship.com

Same Category

Energy saving tips for your winter

04/10/2024

Clean energy brings stable electricity supply to Truong Sa Archipelago 02/11/2022
Energy shifting towards a green economy 07/10/2021
Reduce your energy bills this fall with these tips 28/09/2021
Looking to save on your energy bill? Here are some easy tips 28/09/2021

10 ways to save water at home 26/09/2021

As we face these effects of climate change, conserving water becomes increasingly important. Saving water also means saving money; the average American family spends more than $1,000 on water a year, which can be diminished significantly by addressing the way we use water in our daily lives.
Saving electricity – Practical tips that cut through the noise 26/09/2021

Power is essential for lighting and running appliances at homes and in businesses. With its ever-increasing costs, consumers constantly compare electricity in addition to other practical ways to save electricity.
Energy saving tips for the home – 7 ways to lower your bills 26/09/2021

Worried about soaring gas prices? Our energy saving tips for the home are a great way to lower gas and electricity bills and save precious cash
Quantum chemists conjure recipe to turn gold, silver and copper into vessels of green energy 23/09/2021

Quantum chemists believe gold, silver and copper could help the world take a leap towards green energy after discovering that compounds based on these metal elements and hydrogen are very promising candidates for hydrogen storage.
As heating bills go up, put your energy into keeping costs down 16/09/2021

With wholesale energy prices soaring, millions of householders will face bigger bills next month. But there are ways to save.
5 easy ways to improve energy efficiency 16/09/2021

In addition to navigating a deadly pandemic, improving energy efficiency is likely the top priority for today’s building owners facing costly, mandatory retrofits by 2025.
How to solve the investment puzzle of clean energy transitions in the developing world 19/02/2021

This article looks into three areas where efforts are needed to accelerate investments in clean energy transitions
Viet Nam News Economy Lessons from solar: Rush to invest in wind power plants to get high tariffs could overload grid 09/02/2020

The rush to invest in wind energy to take advantage of the Government's pricing incentives could lead to overloading of the national grid in a repeat of the solar scenario, experts warn.