Norsepower, a provider of wind propulsion systems, has collaborated with Climate Tech start-up Syroco to provide energy-efficiency solutions for commercial shipping.
The partnership aims to optimise fuel consumption, reduce carbon emissions, and provide accurate assessments of savings achieved through the use of Norsepower Rotor Sails.
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The collaboration has been demonstrated through the deployment of Norsepower and Syroco’s technologies onboard French oil shipowner Socatra’s tanker Alcyone.
This initiative highlighted the potential benefits of integrating wind propulsion with advanced digital technologies.
The use of rotor sails on vessels requires “advanced” calculations for route optimisation and balancing wind power with other environmental factors.
By leveraging AI-driven platforms, ship operators can access real-time insights to maximise efficiency, savings, and sustainability.
The collaboration has already shown measurable benefits, with Syroco’s performance evaluation technology confirming that Norsepower Rotor Sails can reduce fuel consumption by up to 21% per voyage.
By integrating Syroco’s weather routing capabilities, these savings can be further enhanced, with early results indicating the potential for doubling efficiency gains on certain routes.
Norsepower CCO Jarkko Väinämö said: “Our collaboration with Syroco is an important step forward in optimising the potential of wind propulsion.
“By accurately validating the performance of Norsepower Rotor Sails and demonstrating how advanced AI can amplify their benefits, we are driving significant progress in sustainable shipping.
“Together, we are proving that cleaner, more efficient shipping is not only achievable but measurable.”
Syroco’s approach involves combining weather and ocean data with principles of naval architecture and IoT-generated information from onboard systems.
This data is used to develop a digital twin of each vessel, accounting for key factors such as hull design, windage, propulsion systems, and other relevant characteristics.
This digital model allows operators to optimise routes in real-time, factoring in environmental conditions, safety considerations, cargo requirements, and arrival schedules.
Syroco cofounder and CEO Alex Caizergues said: “By integrating Norsepower Rotor Sails with digital twin models, the Syroco platform helps the crew obtain the most optimised routing at any time, and essentially amplifies the effect of wind assistance.
“Syroco also provides a precise evaluation of the contribution of wind propulsion to fuel savings and emissions reductions. The user-friendly interface not only enables vessel operators to make data-driven decisions but also to quantify the impact of these decisions.”
With further joint deployments planned, Norsepower and Syroco continue to advance “innovative” solutions for more efficient and environmentally friendly shipping, Norsepower said.
Recently, Norsepower installed its Rotor Sail technology aboard the Yodohime bulk carrier, a project undertaken in collaboration with IINO Kaiun Kaisha and Electric Power Development.
