Marine Electronics
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SkySails, based in Hamburg, Germany has been quietly establishing a market for itself in the marine market, providing a novel propulsion technology for boats and vessels of every size. Established in 2001, with the idea that highflying kites attached to the bow of ships could reduce energy costs, SkySails set out to prove it. Today, in 2010, they now have behind them not only venture capital funding and high profile business partners, but most importantly, paying customers.
Although it may not seem that a simple kite could save energy for something as big as a cargo ship, the fact of the matter is that winds just a few hundred meters up are considerable higher than on the ocean surface. In fact they’re high enough that fairly small kites, that is kites with an area of just a 100 square meters, will produce between five and twenty-five times more power than conventional sails operating at sea level.
With all that wind power, all types of ship and boat owners are able to save a significant amount of money on fuel costs. SkySails reports that its customers can expect a savings of anywhere between 10 to 35 percent in annual fuel costs. But not only that, under optimal wind conditions, fuel consumption and strain on the engines can be dropped by up to 50 percent. All in all, such savings lets shipping companies return their investment in SkySails technology in just two to five years.
Besides fuel savings and a quick return on investment, SkySails indicates that its system will lower the cost for emissions systems and emissions disposal costs; a real concern as looming International Maritime Organization emission regulations come into play.
Another benefit from energy kites is that they provide a lift component. Because the kite pulls upward on the bow, power loss associated with friction and drag from waves is eliminated. This means that the boats powered with kite power will need less power on a knot per knot basis.
The lift also offers a comfort advantage for yacht owners. Not only can the yacht’s motor be turned off for a quieter ride, but there is also no annoying tilt that is associated with conventional sails.
Such benefits have given boat designers pause to think. One question is how to incorporate kite technology into new boats to gain even more improvements in fuel consumption, emissions and comfort. Another question is how electronic control systems can be used to increase kite power and kite-boat power efficiency. Race boat designers also may be concerned if kite driven boats will have to be designed to win races like the World Cup.
With or without further kite-boat technology, SkySails has obtained an impressive client list. SkySails’ customers now include Beluga Shipping, the Wessels shipping company, Wilson, 30 Meter Plus Yachts and Parlevliet & Van der Plas and its list is expected to grow even more. SkySails indicates that over 60,000 of the approximately 100,000 ships listed in Lloyd’s Register as well as 1,100 of the 1900 vessels built every year are potential users of SkySails’ technology. As far as when, SkySails says that it plans to equip approximately 3000 cargo ships and fish trawlers as well as a number of super yachts all by the year 2020.
Besides plans to equip more and bigger ships with SkySails’ technology, SkySails has also established a joint venture, called Zeppelin SkySails Sales & Service GmbH & Co. KG with Zeppelin Power Systems. SkySails and Zeppelin Power Systems, a fifty year old marine engine company, will service SkySails products through the joint venture on a worldwide basis. The new company will work out of Zeppelin Power’s extensive and established marine engine facilities, not only ensuring global coverage, but also giving kites worldwide brand exposure.
Although giving boats an extra lift is one good application of kite power, there are plenty of others that will give SkySails the ability to fly even higher. Scientists are looking even higher up at the jet streams for even more power. Just one percent of the wind energy in the jet streams is said to be enough to meet the energy needs of the entire planet.
