Wind-Assisted Propulsion: Key to Reducing Shipping Emissions and Costs

A new report by marine NGO Seas At Risk highlights the economic and climate benefits of utilizing wind-assisted propulsion to power global shipping. The report, titled ‘Wind First!’, reveals that retrofitting sails on large vessels can lead to significant fuel cost savings of nearly half a million U.S. dollars, while also reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions by up to 12% annually. This makes wind-assisted propulsion a crucial tool in achieving the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) target of 5% zero and near-zero emission energy uptake by 2030.

In order to bridge the gap towards the IMO’s greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets, the integration of wind sails into the global shipping fleet could kick-start GHG reductions, lessen the immediate need for e-fuels production, and allow for a more gradual market maturation. The IMO’s 176 member states must come to a consensus on robust climate policies this year, with wind propulsion playing a central role. Proposed measures include a $150 carbon levy, a Fuels Standard that incentivizes wind-assisted propulsion, and an improved energy efficiency framework (CII).

The IMO adopted a Revised GHG Strategy in 2023, aiming to achieve zero emissions by 2050 with interim targets of 30% by 2030 and 80% by 2040, along with a 5% goal of zero/near-zero emission energy uptake by 2030. Governments are currently in negotiations on measures to meet these targets, emphasizing the importance of global policies like those established by the IMO to incentivize companies to invest in zero-emission fuels and technologies and fulfill the organization’s climate commitment.

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