Skip to main content
Ir a la página de inicio de la Comisión Europea (se abrirá en una nueva ventana)
español es
CORDIS - Resultados de investigaciones de la UE
CORDIS

Wind as main propulsion by ORCELLE

Descripción del proyecto

El viento como opción viable para lograr una propulsión con cero emisiones netas

La propulsión eólica es una solución con un gran potencial para lograr la descarbonización. Teniendo esto en cuenta, en el proyecto Orcelle, financiado con fondos europeos, se desarrollará y demostrará una tecnología que utiliza el viento como principal forma de propulsión. El equipo de Orcelle prevé lograr un aumento de la eficiencia energética superior al 50 % (ahorro promedio durante su funcionamiento durante todo el año). Si bien los motores se pueden emplear en situaciones en las que no hay bastante viento, el aumento de la eficiencia energética podrían alcanzar cerca del 100 % en condiciones ideales de navegación. A partir de sus diseños iniciales de un buque prototipo, el equipo del proyecto creará dos demostradores físicos: una retroadaptación con una ala (con el objetivo de aumentar la eficiencia en un 10 %) y un demostrador de nueva construcción con varias alas (con el objetivo de aumentar la eficiencia general en más de un 50 %).

Objetivo

The Orcelle project is a flagship innovation project preparing the ground for wind as the primary propulsion source in deep-sea shipping. At the heart of the project lies a bold ambition: to enable a new generation of large RoRo vessels where wind provides more than 50 percent of total annual propulsion energy, and under ideal conditions, up to 100 percent of propulsion power during full sailing days. The goal is to drastically reduce fuel consumption and emissions while maintaining operational flexibility and commercial viability.

To achieve this, the project brings together advanced simulation tools, digital platforms, control systems, and vessel design with real-world operational experience from a wing system. We are not only developing the concept, we are demonstrating it at sea.

A key achievement of Orcelle is the full-scale wind propulsion demonstrator on board Tirranna, a vessel in Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s global fleet. This one-wing retrofit, targeting 10 percent energy efficiency gains, is equipped with a comprehensive sensor suite and control system. It serves as a testbed for validating wing performance, automation, safety procedures, and dynamic weather routing strategies under real operating conditions across global trade routes.

The knowledge and data generated through this demonstration directly inform the ongoing development of Orcelle Wind, a multi-wing newbuild vessel design. While construction of this vessel lies outside the current project scope, we are delivering a complete, class-compliant design by the end of the project. This includes simulation-based performance validation, risk mitigation measures, and operational modelling, providing all the necessary tools and insight for a future investment decision by the shipowner.

To support this, the project also includes

Weather routing and voyage planning system to optimize wind-assisted performance

Simulation model validation based on real-world data from Tirranna

Business case framework and exploitation strategy to scale the concept across vessel types

Orcelle Horizon is coordinated by Maritime CleanTech, with strategic and operational leadership from Wallenius Wilhelmsen, a global frontrunner in RoRo logistics. The project builds on years of earlier research and development and leverages a powerful consortium of industry, academia, and innovation partners.

Beyond the retrofit and design work, Orcelle Horizon is developing conceptual wind-powered designs and operational strategies for other vessel types including tankers, bulkers, shortsea ships, ferries, and container vessels. These concepts will enable replication and scale-up, supporting a future in which wind propulsion plays a primary role across more than 80 percent of the global fleet.

By supporting the Orcelle project, the EU is investing in a concrete, scalable, and high-impact solution that delivers deep emission cuts, innovation capacity, and commercial readiness for a cleaner maritime future.

Palabras clave

Programa(s)

Tema(s)

Régimen de financiación

HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions

Ver todos los proyectos financiados en el marco de este régimen de financiación

Convocatoria de propuestas

(se abrirá en una nueva ventana) HORIZON-CL5-2022-D5-01

Ver todos los proyectos financiados en el marco de esta convocatoria

Coordinador

MARITIME CLEANTECH
Aportación neta de la UEn
€ 617 551,25
Coste total
€ 617 551,25

Participantes (12)