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SkySails,
fuel conservation system SkySails,
based in Hamburg, Germany are developing an international patent pending
propulsion system, harnessing the power of wind.World trade relies on cargo vessels to transport good around the globe with 98.2% of all intercontinental goods carried via sea, and 98% of all cargo vessels powered by diesel engines. All this equates to the fact 25 billion Euros worth of fuel was bought in the year 2002 alone. The innovative SkySails system saves a considerable amount of fuel over long voyages, therefore cutting costs and helping the environment. The Skysails system consists of a large towing kite filled with compressed air, and an autopilot and wind-optimised route management system. The features of the SkySails technology enable ships to use wind power with entirely novel performance characteristics.
 Tests
of the SkySails system at the Hamburg Ship Model Basin in February
2003 helped find the ideal towing point of the kite on the ship. Interaction
of the cargo vessel hull with the Skysail was also investigated. To
do this the model cargo vessel was towed through the 300 metre long
towing basin. These tests formed the basis for later tests on the
Baltic sea in the summer of 2003. Skysails website Diseno-art.com 2005 |
The
optimally shaped aerofoil profiles of the Skysail, available with
sail areas of up to 5,000 square metres can be be released to a
fully adjustable height of 500m. The high altitude operation of
the Skysail is important as wind speed increases at height, even
when little wind is perceived at sea level sufficient wind energy
is available higher in the sky. This combined with refined weather
route management systems ensures adherence to schedules is easy.