Developer of wind propulsion technologies GT Wings has received a grant support from the UK government to advance its “innovative” wind propulsion system AirWing.
As disclosed, the firm has been awarded a £225,000 grant from the Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom Smart Shipping Acceleration Fund (SSAF).
SSAF is funded by the Department for Transport and delivered by Innovate UK. The project is part of the Department’s UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) program, a £206 million initiative focused on developing the technology necessary to decarbonize the UK domestic maritime sector.
Specifically, the company received funds to “propel its technology to the next level, integrating AI-driven, self-learning control systems to optimize performance in real-time”.
To remind, in August this year, GT Wings joined forces with companies A2O Manufacturing and KS Composites on the development of its new system designed for commercial shipping. The aim of the project is to help decarbonize the maritime industry and significantly reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
This compact wingsail is suitable for both retrofit and newbuild applications. According to GT Wings, it can reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions by up to 30%.
The first installation of the AirWing, incorporating KS Composites’ materials, will take place on Carisbrooke Shipping’s 124-meter general cargo vessel in the last quarter of 2024.