Industry Players Collaboration Results in Innovative Wind Propulsion System

GT Wings, a developer of wind propulsion technologies, has teamed up with A2O Manufacturing and KS Composites to work on the innovative wind propulsion system known as AirWing. This system is specifically designed for commercial shipping and has the potential to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions by up to 30%, according to GT Wings.

The compact wingsail of AirWing is suitable for both retrofit and newbuild applications, aiming to help shipowners meet strict environmental regulations set by the EU and International Maritime Organization (IMO) while achieving significant fuel savings. The first installation of AirWing, utilizing materials from KS Composites, is scheduled to take place on Carisbrooke Shipping’s 124-meter general cargo vessel in the last quarter of 2024.

GT Wings is optimistic about the commercial interest in AirWing following performance validation. The partnership with A2OM and KS Composites is seen as a crucial step towards the validation of this technology, with plans for delivering multiple units in 2025. GT Wings CEO George Thompson and KS Composites Managing Director Jamie Smith expressed their excitement about the collaboration and the potential impact of AirWing on decarbonizing the global shipping fleet. In April, GT Wings secured £1.25 million in funding to support the commercialization of the AirWing wind propulsion system.

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