Cargill Sees Success with Trial for Wind-Powered Vessel

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March 14, 2024--Written by Daniel Graeber for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Cargill Incorporated (Wayzata, Minnesota) said the results of a six-month trial for wind-assisted propulsion on a cargo vessel led to a significant reduction in fuel usage.

The Pyxis Ocean was retrofitted with two sails with the trademarked name WindWings. Developed by marine company BAR Technologies (Portsmouth, England), the solid sails meant the trip saw an estimated fuel savings of around 3 tons per day.

"We are on the leading edge of change in the shipping industry and believe technologies that harness the wind could be an important, cost-effective way to achieve our decarbonization goals in the short-, medium- and long-term," said Jan Dieleman, the president of Cargill's ocean transportation business.

The vessel embarked on its maiden voyage in late August, traveling through the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, and passing both the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn. The sails, meanwhile, are some 120 feet in height and deploy at the touch of a button on the bridge.

"Once raised, the operation is fully automated: sensors onboard constantly measure the wind, and the sails self-adjust to the optimal configuration," Cargill explained.

Shippers under various protocols are obligated to use cleaner fuels or install onboard devices called scrubbers that essentially wash the vessel's emissions. More than 90% of all the goods traded globally are carried by a ship at some point during their voyage, and most of these ships are powered by heavy fuel oil (HFO), which is very carbon-intensive.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has called on maritime shippers to rely on low-carbon alternatives for as much as 10% of their energy, and Cargill believes wind power can be a novel way to meet that objective.

John Cooper, BAR's chief executive officer, said at the vessel's launch in August that if the international shipping sector is to meet its climate obligations, then the industry needs to embrace a spirit of innovation.

Wind, the partners said, has zero emissions and, apart from savings on fuel consumption, helps lower the cost of the overall voyage.

"The results of the Pyxis Ocean's first voyage with WindWings installed clearly demonstrate that wind-assisted propulsion can secure significant fuel savings and emissions reduction," Cooper said this week.

At its peak performance, Cargill estimates that Pyxis Ocean emitted 37% fewer emissions than a comparable voyage with conventional fuels. Cargill said it has reached out to more than 250 ports to examine berthing options.

"We are not afraid to be a development partner and invest, share risks with partners, and to make a difference in transforming the industry," the president of Cargill's ocean transportation business said.

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