(Commonwealth_ Drax Group’s recent investment in Smart Green Shipping (SGS) signals a promising development in the maritime industry’s push toward cleaner energy. This collaboration is set to accelerate the development of SGS’s wing sail system, currently undergoing sea trials on the UK-flagged nuclear waste carrier Pacific Grebe, a 4,902-deadweight-tonne vessel built in 2010. The project represents a broader commitment to exploring sustainable wind propulsion solutions, with potential benefits for both the shipping sector and environmental conservation.
SGS’s innovative FastRig system, a retractable wing sail, equips the Pacific Grebe with support from both Scottish and UK governmental funding sources, including the UK’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition. The system’s purpose is to harness wind power, reducing a vessel’s dependency on fuel and thereby cutting emissions. After the conclusion of the current trials at the end of October, the FastRig will be dismantled, but the results of the trials will guide further development. Once the data has been analyzed and any necessary adjustments made, Drax will proceed with installing the FastRig on one of its own chartered biomass vessels.
Drax’s interest in adopting the FastRig system aligns with its broader environmental objectives. The company, known for operating a large power station near Selby in North Yorkshire, transitioned from coal to biomass, a renewable fuel source made primarily from forestry waste. Drax imports wood pellets for this purpose, and the addition of wing sails to its shipping fleet could help reduce the carbon footprint associated with transporting these materials. This shared commitment to using renewables to support renewable energy production is a central theme of the partnership, which Di Gilpin, CEO of Smart Green Shipping, sees as vital for accelerating the maritime industry’s shift to sustainable power.
“Smart Green Shipping shares a joint mission with Drax Group to use renewables to move renewables,” said Gilpin. “The first commercial installation of FastRig is incredibly exciting and an important milestone as we de-risk the transition to wind for the whole shipping ecosystem.” Gilpin’s statement highlights the potential industry-wide impact of successful wind propulsion systems. The aim is not only to make individual vessels more sustainable but also to provide a blueprint for reducing emissions across the sector.
The investment from Drax will also support the development of SmartRoute, SGS’s proprietary software designed to optimize sail usage. This digital solution will help navigators maximize wind propulsion by integrating it with route planning and weather data. By enabling captains to fine-tune sail deployment based on current weather and ocean conditions, SmartRoute could enhance operational efficiency and reduce fuel costs, offering a significant advantage for shippers looking to balance economic and environmental priorities.
The success of these sea trials could pave the way for broader adoption of wind technologies in shipping, especially as regulators push for greater energy efficiency and emissions reductions across the industry. Wind propulsion systems like the FastRig represent an increasingly viable solution to help shipping companies comply with evolving environmental regulations. They also offer a flexible retrofitting option for existing vessels, which may be a more feasible alternative than building new, fuel-efficient ships from scratch. With international shipping accounting for about 2-3% of global CO₂ emissions, technologies that can reduce fuel consumption have significant environmental implications.
The current industry interest in wind propulsion is partly driven by the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) and Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) regulations, which require vessels to meet specific emissions benchmarks. By lowering fuel use, wing sails can help ships achieve these targets, reducing their carbon intensity and making them more sustainable. Retrofitting older vessels with wind technologies also extends their operational life, helping to manage the environmental impact of the shipbuilding process itself.
