30% Fuel Cut: Bulker Trials Wind-Solar Hybrid at Sea
A 60,155-dwt bulker has been retrofitted with a rigid wingsail and solar panels to slash emissions on trans-Pacific.
The Maria Tipoc, retrofitted by Tsuneiship Shipbuilding, is the centrepiece of the WHISPER project, a four-year research initiative funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme.
The vessel’s retrofit includes two key technologies: OceanWings’ tiltable rigid wingsail and Solbian’s solar panels. The wingsail, installed for the first time on a bulker, is designed to reduce the power demanded from the main engine, thereby cutting fuel use and greenhouse-gas emissions. Meanwhile, the solar panels supply renewable electricity for onboard systems, easing the load on auxiliary generators. The combination is intended to demonstrate how modular retrofit solutions can be integrated into existing vessels without compromising safety or operational flexibility.
How the Hybrid System Works in Real-World Conditions
The Maria Tipoc is now conducting sea trials en route to Vancouver, where the performance of the hybrid system will be closely monitored. The trials will assess energy production, fuel-saving potential, and the reliability of the technologies under real operating conditions. Data gathered will also examine how the systems integrate with routine ship and port operations, a critical factor for commercial viability.
The wingsail, developed by the French company OceanWings, is a rigid, tiltable structure that harnesses wind energy to supplement the vessel’s propulsion.
The WHISPER project, which began in January 2023 and runs until December 2026, brings together 13 partners from six European countries. Its goal is to demonstrate the potential for modular retrofit solutions to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions in the long-distance maritime industry.
What’s Next for the WHISPER Project and Wind-Solar Hybrid Technology
The success of the Maria Tipoc’s sea trials will be critical in validating the performance of the hybrid system and its potential for wider adoption. The data collected will inform technical development, future vessel integration, and lifecycle assessments, as well as pathways to commercial uptake. The project’s second demonstration, set to take place on a Samskip containership, will further explore the scalability of the technology. This phase will feature SideWind’s horizontal wind turbines, with Solbian’s solar panels installed directly onto the turbines’ containerised structures.
The Samskip containership will test this configuration, which could offer a blueprint for future retrofits on vessels with constrained deck areas. The WHISPER project’s focus on modularity is key, as it allows shipowners to adopt technologies incrementally, reducing the financial and operational risks associated with large-scale retrofits.
Projects like WHISPER highlight the potential for existing vessels to contribute to these goals through retrofitting, rather than relying solely on newbuilds.
With the project set to conclude at the end of 2026, the next 16 months will be crucial in determining whether hybrid systems can deliver on their promise of significant fuel savings and emissions reductions.
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