Multinational Cargill plans to add giant wind-powered sails to cargo ships to reduce carbon emissions
Cargill, the world's biggest trader in agricultural commodities, plans to harness wind energy by setting huge sails on part of its fleet of cargo ships to reduce fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions. Maritime transport is responsible for about 90% of world trade and also for almost 3% of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions.
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Cargill pledges to reduce carbon emissions by using wind power on ships
The industry has pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2050 from 2008 levels. How it gets there and what new fuel technologies it will use to replace traditional oil-based ships is still up for grabs.
Cargill wants to add – in an as-yet-untested idea – solid wing sails to collect wind energy, up to 45 meters (148 feet), attached to the decks of cargo ships with specially designed hulls that the trader and his partners say can reduce fuel usage by up to 30%. Minnesota-based Cargill has about 600 ships on charter at any given time.
Carbon Costs
Some major shipowners and charterers, including oil and metals trading giant Trafigura Group, have proposed a tax on carbon dioxide emissions to reduce the industry's footprint and meet climate targets.
The new wind power sail venture, which could have MR2 tankers each equipped with three wings on the water by 2022, is being completed in partnership with BAR Technologies, a British spin-off company of Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) – the eponymous British sailing team of the Olympic medalist and America's Cup winner. No specific financial details were disclosed.
