K Line’s kite-based propulsion system development enters next phase
Japanese shipping company Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) said that its kite-based propulsion system has successfully completed the land-based test verifying its performance.
IMAGE: K Line's kite-based wind propulsion system. K Line
K Line has confirmed that the system, using wind power for propulsion, has successfully verified its tensile strength and performance with a 300 sq meter kite at a land test site during the first phase of development.
It is a form of wind-assisted propulsion system (WAPS) that uses kites to capture wind energy, helping to reduce engine load, improve vessel efficiency and lower fuel consumption.
France-based Oceanicwing, a subsidiary of K Line, is developing the system. The second phase of development began in July, K Line said.
In phase two, the company plans to verify the tensile strength, reliability, operability and safety of the system using a larger kite at the land test site, followed by offshore demonstration experiments on one of K Line’s large bulk carriers.
K Line aims to finish the second phase of tests in about two years and begin practical application of the system by 2027. The kite-based system can be installed on any type of vessel, including existing vessels.
It is expected that the propulsion system “will reduce fuel consumption by more than 10%,” depending on the ship type, speed, route and seasons, the shipping company said.
WAPS are increasingly being adopted by shipowners to enhance vessel efficiency and cut fuel consumption.
In May, Chilean shipping company Ultranav partnered with France-based Beyond the Sea to install a kite-based propulsion system on one of its chemical tankers.
By Aparupa Mazumder
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