French startup is banking on wind power to propel shipping to net zero

Back to the sailboat?French startup Beyond the Sea is testing designs for inflatable kite sails that could one day be used to propel container ships, France24 reported. The system uses winches and artificial intelligence that adjusts the sails’ positions based on wind conditions. This could help reduce fuel consumption by 20% on average, company founder Yves Parlier said.

The potential for applications is “huge,” with more than 100k merchant vessels and 4.6 mn fishing trawlers currently in service that can benefit from the tech, France24 said. The Wind Ship Association — a France-based organization that aims to cut back emissions in shipping — projects that the market for the tech could be worth EUR 4 bn by 2030, with more than 1.4k vessels fitted with the smart sails by that date.

REMEMBER- The latest initiative comes on the back of added pressure from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for shippers to cut back emissions. The IMO established a net-zero emissions target for shipping “close to 2050,” with progressive reductions leading up to the deadline.