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Horizontal wind turbines for maritime transport ships

Project description

Wind blows cargo ships on course for energy conservation

The shipping industry transports the majority of trade worldwide and represents a growing sector. As it depends on fossil fuels, it remains a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. The EU has long pushed for a solution, but these remain at the research phase and do not represent applicable power sources. The idea to exploit the wind to power ships emerges as an environment-friendly solution. The EU-funded SIDEWIND project proposes an innovation that exploits the wind energy around cargo ships and converts it into electrical energy. The solution is based on the incorporation of horizontal turbines inside recycled cargo containers. The system is cost-effective, saves significant amounts of energy and does not require important changes in the ship design.

Objective

International shipping is a large and growing source of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). It transports 80% of the global trade at the cost of 940 million CO2 tons (2.5% of global GHGs). Despite mandates from the EC or the UN on tackling this situation, the industry remains heavily fossil-fuel dependent. Some efforts are being made in harnessing the wind to propel ships, going back to its origins. These are soft-tails, fixed-sails, flettner rotors, kite sails and even some wind turbines. However, they all remain at the research stage failing to represent a feasible and reliable power source.
Sidewind is a breakthrough innovation in the use of wind power in transport ships. Designed to utilize the wind energy that is wasted around cargo ships by converting that energy (kinetic) into electricity, Sidewind incorporates horizontal turbines inside recycled cargo containers. This results in a flexible, practical and cost-effective solution to the maritime transport sector, without the need for major changes in the ship. By installing just 20 turbines (standard cargo ship), a ship will save 40% average fossil fuel and energy, translated in €328k per year.
The EU has 329 key seaports, controlling around 60% of all container cargo ships. Our customers are maritime transport companies (183 in Europe, managing 23,000 vessels) and ship builders (150 shipyards in the EU). The number of vessels calling in the main EU ports in 2017 was estimated at above 2.1 million, and we will target the most important shipping companies. We count with support from public entities (Ministry for the Environment and Natural Resources, Ministry of industries and innovation) and key industry players like Samskip (maritime transport), Hedinn (engineering in fishing industry) and Rafnar Hull (ship builder).
Sidewind is opening a new market niche as provider of wind technology for the maritime transport. Our vision for Sidewind is to play the leading role in a new green shipping era

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020

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Coordinator

SIDEWIND EHF
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 50 000,00
Address
SOLEYJARIMA 33
112 Reykjavik
Iceland

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 71 429,00
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