China’s green energy technology company Dealfeng New Energy Technology recently completed a multi-million RMB Pre-A Series funding round, attracting investment by TZME (TianJin), a compatriot company active in the mechanical equipment industry.
As explained, the investment represents not only a capital injection but a ‘profound’ strategic collaboration between the two Chinese players.
Specifically, the cross-industry cooperation of the duo will encompass, among other things, the design, manufacturing, and market promotion of wind-assisted propulsion system (WAPS) for ships.
Moving forward, Dealfeng aims to leverage TZME’s ‘robust’ production resources to achieve a significant leap in production capacity, enabling the annual production of 50 sets of rotor sails .
What is more, the partners anticipate the operational launch of the Tianjin Lingang No. 19 Wharf within the factory premises by 2027. Once operational, Dealfeng will become “the world’s only WAPS manufacturer with its own dedicated wharf” . This advantage is expected to significantly enhance production efficiency, effectively control costs, and improve market position.
Founded in 2012, Dealfeng is one of China’s pioneers in green energy technologies, specializing in the R&D, design, manufacturing, and ship retrofitting of wind assisted propulsion systems. Its core product is the rotor sail which has obtained relevant certifications from several classification societies and has been installed on multiple ships.
In related news, 2024 was an exciting year in the ongoing development of the wind-assisted ship propulsion segment. Last month, the International Windship Association (IWSA) revealed that there was 54 large wind ships in operation and seven more designated as wind-ready.
What is more, the wind ship orderbook currently includes more than 80 vessels with a further 30-40 in the pipeline.
Wind ship propulsion is becoming increasingly popular in shipping since it is the only ‘ free energy source ‘. Moreover, the potential of wind propulsion is said to be enormous for green shipping due to the freely available quantities of wind in many shipping areas and the associated savings potential.