The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) is in the process of seeking new partners for a flettner rotor sails project that aims to improve fuel consumption by 10% for large ships.
The project is part of ETI’s Heavy Duty Vehicles efficiency programme and requires partners to participate in design, supply, and fit of flettner rotor sail technology on a large ocean going vessel that is to be sourced by the ETI.
Flettner rotors have proven to reduce fuel consumption by using a spinning cylinder to convert wind force into thrust power to help propel the ship. However, previously there has been a lack of full-scale marine demonstrations to evidence the benefits of flettner rotors. By proving the technology’s fuel saving capabilities, ETI expects the rotors to become more attractive to ship owners, operators and investors, particularly as it is applicable to existing ships for retrofit.
The ETI project will be the first demonstration on such a large vessel and will provide valuable insights into real world fuel savings and ease of operation.
Companies interested in participating will have to show how their technology delivers fuel savings by at least 10% and how they would design, supply, install, commission and test as well as show how they can provide flettner rotor installation support. This will be done through an Expression of Interest (EOI). Once installed, sea trials will take place for a least one year thereafter.
The EOI, which must be notified for submission by 31 March 2016 and submitted to the ETI by the 15 April, 2016, will be used to select a preferred technology provider that is capable of moving from the shaping phase to the full scale demonstration project.
Andrew Scott, Manager for the ETI’s Flettner Rotor Supply, Install and Commission Project commented: “This is a project to design, develop and fit flettner rotor blades – effectively mechanical sails – which will then be demonstrated and tested at sea in real life conditions. Studies have shown that flettner blades could be beneficial in certain sea conditions around the world reducing fuel consumption in ships of between 7 and 15%. ”
The Expression of Interest can be downloaded by clicking here.
