Project: Aerosail

Mission

Developing scalable wind propulsion technology to reduce fuel consumption, emissions, and costs in global shipping.

The challenge

The shipping industry is a major contributor to global carbon emissions, producing approximately 706 million tonnes of CO₂ annually. As international trade grows, emissions from shipping are expected to rise, posing environmental and regulatory challenges. Current fuel-saving technologies often require expensive retrofitting, making adoption difficult for shipping companies. There is a need for a cost-effective, easily deployable solution that reduces fuel consumption and emissions without disrupting existing fleet operations. Meeting stricter environmental regulations while maintaining economic efficiency is a critical challenge for the maritime sector.

The solution

Aerosail is a fully automated, modular wind-assisted propulsion system designed to integrate seamlessly into existing shipping fleets. The sail is housed in a standard 40ft TEU container and deploys telescopically, generating aerodynamic thrust similar to an aircraft wing. This reduces fuel consumption by an estimated 8-10%, lowering both costs and emissions. The system requires no major modifications to ships and operates autonomously, using live and satellite data to optimize performance. By providing a scalable, plug-and-play solution, Aerosail offers a practical, cost-effective way to help the shipping industry transition toward greener operations without disrupting logistics.