Wind as main propulsion by ORCELLE

Project Information

Orcelle

Grant agreement ID: 101096673

DOI

10.3030/101096673

EC signature date 9 December 2022

Start date 1 January 2023

End date 31 December 2027

Funded under

• Climate, Energy and Mobility

Total cost

€ 9 058 727,50

EU contribution

€ 8 989 977,50

Coordinated by

Wallenius Wilhelmsen Ocean AS
Norway

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Orcelle (Wind as main propulsion by ORCELLE)

Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2024-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

ORCELLE is a European research and innovation project that aims to develop and demonstrate a solution for using wind as the main propulsion for ships. Wind propulsion is a renewable and clean energy source that can significantly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and fuel costs of the maritime transport sector. However, there are still many technical, operational and regulatory challenges to overcome before wind propulsion can be widely adopted by the industry.

The ORCELLE project will address these challenges by combining advanced simulation tools, innovative wing systems, new ship designs, optimised weather routing, and novel logistics and business models. The project will build and operate two physical demonstrators: a retrofit vessel with one wing system, and a newbuild vessel with multiple wing systems that can achieve more than 50% energy savings. The demonstrators will be RoRo (roll-on/roll-off) vessels that will transport cars and other cargo across the Atlantic Ocean. The project will also use the data collected from the demonstrators to validate and improve the simulation tools and wing designs, and to develop conceptual designs and operational plans for other vessel types, such as tankers, bulk carriers, container ships, cruise ships and ferries.

The ORCELLE project has the following main objectives:

1. Develop a platform that can simulate industry scenarios and predict energy efficiency with over 80% accuracy, using a demonstrator as an example.
2. Create a simulation platform and digital toolkit for the industry, which has been utilized in over 30 ship designs. This toolkit assists in system design and operation, facilitating both retrofitting and building new wind systems projects.
3. Show that it's possible to design self-adjusting wings, building on the previous points, which can enhance efficiency by at least 50% for year-round operations, with even greater improvements at lower speeds.
4. Establish new safety standards and regulations for wind propulsion (main propulsion) to enable the construction of physical demonstrators.
5. Develop logistics systems and business models that allow for trans-Atlantic crossings to be extended by 2 to 5 days by utilizing wind propulsion.
6. Demonstrate the safe operation of wind-powered ships without major incidents, both in vessels that have been retrofitted and in newly built ones.
7. Improve the credibility and accuracy of the modeling framework by incorporating feedback from demonstrator data, achieving a 95% accuracy rate.
8. Prove the technical feasibility and economic viability of the business model, as well as the potential efficiency gains, for a broad range of deep-sea tonnage, covering approximately 80% of the world's fleet.

The ORCELLE project will have a significant impact on the waterborne transport sector and the society at large. It will contribute to the European Green Deal and the UN Sustainable Development Goals by reducing the environmental footprint and enhancing the competitiveness of the European maritime industry. It will also create new opportunities for innovation, employment, and education in the field of wind propulsion. The ORCELLE project will be a showcase of how the European research and innovation community can collaborate to deliver solutions for a more sustainable and resilient future.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Building upon existing research and innovation initiatives related to wind propulsion, simulation, safety protocols, logistics, and alternative fuels, the ORCELLE project will utilize lab prototypes, numerical models, experiments, and operational data to refine and validate wind propulsion technologies and systems.

Embracing an interdisciplinary approach, the project will consider not only the vessel itself but also its operational environment and associated business models. It will engage diverse fields including ship design, aerodynamics, hydrodynamics, automation, logistics, business administration, and organizational science. Stakeholder involvement will be comprehensive, encompassing ship owners, cargo owners, wing providers, ship designers, weather routing specialists, classification societies, research institutes, and maritime clusters.

Incorporating social science and humanities perspectives, particularly in logistics, business models, crew training, and policy recommendations, the project will employ methodologies like scenario modeling, case studies, multi-stakeholder engagement and analysis.

The ORCELLE project will progressively adopt open science practices, ensuring transparency and accessibility in its processes. This entails open access to scientific publications, depositing research outputs in the Horizon Europe repository, sharing knowledge and tools openly, involving a diverse array of stakeholders, consulting relevant projects, and contributing to EU policy developments.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

ORCELLE aims for groundbreaking advancements in wind propulsion technology, including:

1. Designing ships with +50% energy efficiency from wind.
2. Validating wind propulsion viability via two large-scale demonstrators.
3. Developing safe wing systems.
4. Creating a wind propulsion simulation platform.
5. Advancing ship design for wind.
6. Improving weather routing.
7. Innovating wind-powered shipping logistics.

These advancements promise significant environmental and economic benefits. However, key needs include further R&D, demo projects, market access, commercialization, and regulatory support for widespread adoption. Addressing these ensures ORCELLE maximizes its impact, fostering a sustainable and efficient maritime industry.

From the testsite of the wing sail, in Landskrona Sweden