Windship Technology has been awarded £4m as part of a consortium in the latest round of the UK’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC). The project is a demonstration of a symbiotic wind propulsion and carbon capture system, aimed at making a zero-emissions shipping industry a reality.
Image Credit: Windship Technology
This project will install a Windship Technology 36m tri-foiled rig on a 15,000DWT bulker alongside carbon capture technology being demonstrated by Leilac.
Graham Harvey, CEO of Windship Technology, said, “We are absolutely delighted with this funding for Windship Technology. Given the significant financial support announced today, the Department for Transport and Innovate UK believe Windship Technology can be a key driver in the clean shipping revolution, and we are proud to be playing our part in the decarbonisation of the shipping industry.”
Simon Rogers, Windship Technology Technical Director, commented, “The Windship Technology project has progressed significantly since we announced our DNV Approval in Principal. The next stage, thanks to this funding, will enable us to build a full-scale demonstration of our fully patented triple rig wing design working in conjunction with our partners carbon capture technology.”
The Windship Technology project is part of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 3 (CMDC3), which was announced in September 2022, funded by the Department of Transport and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. As part of the CMDC3, the Department allocated £60m to 19 flagship projects supported by 92 UK organisations to deliver real world demonstration R&D projects in clean maritime solutions. Projects will take place in multiple locations around the UK from as far north as the Shetland Isles and as far south as Cornwall.
Transport Secretary, Rt Hon Mark Harper MP, said: “Our maritime sector imports 95% of goods into the UK and contributes £116 billion to our economy – more than both aviation and rail combined. With growing the economy one of the government’s top priorities, we must continue our efforts to ensure the UK remains a pioneer in cutting-edge clean maritime solutions. The funding we’re awarding today will help to do just that, bringing emission-free concepts to life and fuelling innovation.”
Innovate UK Executive Director for Net Zero, Mike Biddle, said: “These 19 real world demonstration projects showcase the very best of UK clean maritime innovation and engineering, bringing a range of exciting technologies one step closer to commercial reality. Accelerating clean maritime innovation is an important part of Innovate UK’s wider strategy and support to achieve Net Zero and unlock economic opportunities in the UK and globally.”
CEO of the UK Chamber of Shipping, Sarah Treseder, said: “Congratulations to all the successful bids, which cover a wide range of technologies and aspects of shipping. The UK Chamber of Shipping is committed to net zero by 2050. This funding is an important milestone in ensuring we continue to work together to achieve this important target and will help us complete the journey from theory to reality for zero emission shipping.”
The CMDC3 is part of the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emission’s (UK SHORE) flagship multi-year CMDC programme. In March 2022, the Department announced the biggest government investment ever in our UK commercial maritime sector, allocating £206m to UK SHORE, a new division within the Department for Transport focused on decarbonising the maritime sector. UK SHORE is delivering a suite of interventions throughout 2022-2025 aimed at accelerating the design, manufacture and operation of UK-made clean maritime technologies and unlocking an industry-led transition to Net Zero.