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Wind as main propulsion by ORCELLE

Descrizione del progetto

Il vento come opzione fattibile per la realizzazione di una propulsione a zero emissioni

La propulsione assistita dal vento è una tecnologia dotata di grandi potenzialità nell’ambito del percorso verso la decarbonizzazione. Alla luce di questa premessa, il progetto Orcelle, finanziato dall’UE, svilupperà e dimostrerà una soluzione che prevede il vento come principale fattore di propulsione. Orcelle prevede di ottenere un guadagno di efficienza energetica superiore al 50 % (aumento medio calcolato rispetto al funzionamento durante l’intero anno). Sebbene nei casi di insufficiente presenza del vento possa essere necessario l’impiego supplementare di un motore, in condizioni di navigazione ideali gli incrementi di efficienza energetica potrebbero avvicinarsi al 100 %. Sulla scia delle sue progettazioni iniziali di un’imbarcazione prototipo, il progetto svilupperà ora due dimostratori fisici: una soluzione di riqualificazione a una vela (con l’obiettivo di aumentare l’efficienza del 10 %) e un dimostratore di nuova costruzione a più vele (che punta a raggiungere un aumento totale dell’efficienza pari al 50 %).

Obiettivo

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.

Parole chiave

Programma(i)

Argomento(i)

Meccanismo di finanziamento

HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions

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(si apre in una nuova finestra) HORIZON-CL5-2022-D5-01

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Coordinatore

MARITIME CLEANTECH
Contributo netto dell'UE
€ 617 551,25
Indirizzo
MEATJONNSVEGEN 74
5412 Stord
Norvegia
Regione
Norge Vestlandet Vestland
Tipo di attività
Other
Collegamenti
Costo totale
€ 617 551,25

Partecipanti (12)