Know the kite surfing? No? It’s a human-size piece of fabric used to dog the surfer while he rides over ocean waves. This time, it’s a 5,000 m² paraglider-look kite developed to haul giant freighters.
It sounds like a child dream comes true. For a decade, Hamburg, Germany-based SkySails was promoting this environmentally friendly propulsion mode. With the costs of fossil energies, Shipping companies and super tankers owners are now enough environmentally sensitive to contract them. The first deal was set with the Bremen, Germany-based shipping company Beluga Group.
Even if it flies up to 500 meters over the ocean, the kite itself won’t be able to pull the boat. But SkySails declares it could halve the amount of fuel the boat burns. Currently, emissions from the low-grade, high-sulfur fuel oil used in cargo shipping dramatically damage the environment (New Scientist magazine drops a sulfur pollution map here). Niels Stolberg, captain and managing partner of the Beluga Group, seems to be enthusiastic of his new hybrid boat, speaking of “revolutionizing the cargo shipping industry” in a press release.
Nevertheless not every boat could make full use of the SkySails kite. They have to install the SkySails system, created to autopilot the kite and hence, to avoid extra crew. Particularly, for the case of Beluga Group, a new 140m giant freighter needs to be built.
The kite idea comes from Knud Hansen who loves kites since he was a child. Figuring how powerful the wind could blow in his piece of fabric, he was dreaming on trailing every vehicle with his kite. In 1995, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency missioned him and his team to elaborate a windship. Some other people have already experimented such kites, as Dave Culp with his KiteTugs.
SkySails patented his invention. The german company aims to start regular sales by 2008.
[via WorldChanging]
Tags: skysails beluga beluga+group sky+sails kite kiting sea cargo tanker freighter wind wind+turbine windturbine knuthansen knut+hansen knut hansen kitetugs hamburg germany environment friendly friend fossil energies shipping companies propulsion bremen newscientist scientist stolberg
But something told us that you will be the first to add a comment to this story. Simply click on the button 'Add your comment' to start expressing your opinion.