不论是远洋巨轮还是内河运输,各种转向再生能源为燃料的“清洁船舶”接踵而来,以减少燃料消耗和二氧化碳排放。
据TechNews 报道,世界上第一批装备太阳能硬帆的货船将同时利用风和太阳能为动力,并准备进行为期12——18个月的海上试航,日本再生能源开发商 Eco
Marine Power(EMP)正在估算一艘船的硬帆能提供多少推进力、以及航运路线上可能获得多少太阳能量。
据介绍,EMP开发一种称为“Energy Sail”的硬帆,帆上嵌有太阳能电池板,能承受海上强风,如果海上气象太过恶劣也可以把帆的高度降低避免毁坏;船舶靠港时,太阳能板会持续为发电机提供转换自太阳能量的电力。
安装在船舶甲板旋转支柱上的“Energy
Sail”硬帆由高强度碳纤维制成,EMP目标为结合远洋货船作业,这种太阳能硬帆专门设计应用于航运,从大型散货船、滚装船到小型警卫巡逻船、渔船都可安装。
目前政府组织和国际海事组织等机构已经拟定了对船舶碳减排的政策,欧盟数据显示,2016年海运业碳排放量超过10亿吨,占全球温室气体排放量的2.5%,航运公司若能运用现有再生能源技术,能源消耗或可减少达75%。
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wind & Solar Power for Low Emission Shipping!
The
patented EnergySail is
revolutionary rigid sail device designed by Eco Marine Power that allows ships
to harness the power of the wind and sun in order to reduce fuel costs plus
lower noxious gas and carbon emissions. The
patented EnergySail is
unlike any other sail - it can be used even when a ship is at anchor or in port
and has been designed to withstand high winds or even sudden
micro-bursts.
EnergySail® - not just a sail!
The EnergySail can
be fitted with a range of renewable energy technologies such as solar panels or
wind power devices. It is a truly unique renewable energy platform specifically
designed for shipping that can be fitted to a wide variety of vessels from large
Capesize bulk ore carriers and RoRo vessels to naval and coastguard patrol
ships. The EnergySail is the ideal solution for ships with wind assisted
propulsion or sail assisted propulsion.
EnergySail Patent Image. Japan
Patent: 6020995
A
variation of
the EnergySail that is
suitable for Unmanned Surface Vessels (USV's) and smaller ships such as
passenger ferries or fishing vessels is also being developed.
The EnergySail can
be configured to suit the operational profile of a vessel. For example the
number & type of solar panels can be changed or a variety of other equipment
can be installed.
This means the device can be
configured for a particular type of ship, for the route the vessel operates on
and/or the operational profile or mission profile of the
vessel.
This makes
the EnergySail a truly
flexible platform for renewable energy technologies as a means to lower airborne
emissionsincluding greenhouse gases (GHG)
and facilitate the move towards more environmentally friendly
ships.
The flexible nature of
the EnergySail design will
also allow for it to be upgraded during the life-cycle of the ship it is fitted
to so that newer technologies can be incorporated as they become available such
as more efficient solar modules or
panels.
It has also been designed so
that it will require little maintenance and be robust enough to withstand the
harsh conditions of an operational life at sea.
Although
the EnergySail has
primarily been designed for Eco Marine Power's Aquarius MRE
System other applications for its use are also
being studied.
It could be for example used
as a stand-alone unit on a cable laying vessel, coastal tanker or oceanographic
ship. In addition a simplified version of the Aquarius
MRE System including a
modified EnergySail could
be utilised on a range of smaller vessels.
An alternative version of
the EnergySail could also
be used horizontally.
An example of how
the EnergySail could be
incorporated into a modern ship design is the Aquarius Eco Ship. This low emission -
sustainable ship design concept includes an EnergySail array and other
technologies that solar & wind power can be used to reduce fuel consumption
and lower noxious gas emissions on commercial ocean going
ships.
EnergySail - Key
Features
- Flexible design. Can be
upgraded and modified after installation if required.
- Automatic positioning via
computer control system.
- Can be integrated with other
systems and equipment on-board ships via control system
architecture.
- Designed to be safe, robust
& reliable. Multiple layers of safety are incorporated into the
design.
- Can be lowered and stored
when not in use.
- Suitable for a wide range of
ships and vessels.
- Pathway to low emission &
low carbon shipping!
EnergySail by Eco Marine Power