bound4blue has taken a major step forward in simplifying the adoption of wind power worldwide, with DNV validation of its ‘wind propulsion system force matrix’ calculation method. This validation provides ship owners, designers, and yards with a trusted, regulation-ready tool to evaluate the performance of bound4blue’s eSAIL.
The validation gives the industry a reliable tool to easily calculate the benefits of bound4blue’s eSAIL suction sail technology, without the need for full-scale testing. As such, it can save time and money through providing a clear forecast of the fuel savings, emissions reductions, return on investment, and regulatory benefits for individual vessels.
The validated methodology allows accurate estimation of the thrust generated by eSAILs across a wide range of operational scenarios. The DNV validation of the methodology, indicates that the results have been produced with a tool that is fully aligned with international rules and standards and can now be used directly in calculations for key regulatory frameworks including EEDI, EEXI, and FuelEU Maritime.
David Ferrer, chief technical officer and co-founder of bound4blue, said: “This is a crucial development. The validation not only confirms the accuracy of our performance assessments, but also ensures they are immediately applicable for compliance with today’s most important environmental regulations. It simplifies decision-making for stakeholders and removes uncertainty when evaluating wind-assisted propulsion.”
Force matrix approachbound4blue’s force matrix approach quantifies the thrust generated by eSAILs under a full spectrum of wind and sailing conditions. Any individual vessel can be assessed, with trusted results produced through a unique combination of data from wind tunnel tests, CFD simulations and potential flow models (allowing for the analysis of multiple sail configurations and interactions).
Mr Ferrer continued: “We see increased interest in adopting wind power due to the compelling commercial and regulatory benefits of this easily accessible, free and instantly available energy source. However, some owners, designers and yards can be unsure of where to start and the level of savings possible with leading technology. Validation by DNV demonstrates that our calculation methodology is trusted and accurate, allowing us to very simply showcase the robust business case for our market-proven, autonomous eSAIL systems.”
The validation also reinforces trust among owners who are already adopting eSAIL technology. Jan Opedal, manager of projects at Odfjell, said: “Having a certified methodology behind the performance numbers is essential. With DNV’s validation, we know that the values reported from the installation of eSAILs on the Bow Olympus can be confidently used for regulatory purposes. This supports decision-making and makes it easier to assess the effect of eSAILs through an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.”
bound4blue’s fully autonomous suction sails are enjoying a surge in market impact, with recent orders placed by companies such as Maersk Tankers, Marflet Marine and Klaveness Combination Carriers, while new installations have been completed for Odfjell, Eastern Pacific Shipping and Louis Dreyfus Company. The mechanically simple, market-proven systems are suitable for both retrofit and new builds, with easy installation and no operational input needed from vessel crews.
Energy enhancing technologiesSpeaking about the validation process, Cristina Saenz de Santa Maria, DNV Maritime’s COO, said: “As the decarbonisation timeline becomes clearer and regulatory pressure intensifies, we need to ensure that our stakeholders can make confident decisions when adopting energy enhancing technologies. Performance benefit claims should be credible, comparable, and transparent, to accelerate the uptake of greener technologies.
“At DNV we want to make sure that when shipping companies invest in greater sustainability, they can be sure they are making a difference to both their competitiveness and to the environment. That is why we are pleased to work with technology suppliers like bound4blue who are committed to transparency and independent validation to robust technical standards.”
Wind propulsion solutions, such as suction sails, are becoming increasingly attractive since the advent of the FuelEU Maritime regulation. Wind is the only power source actively rewarded through the framework, with the Wind Reward Factor effectively relaxing compliance targets for relevant vessels by up to 5%. eSAILs® also create energy efficiency benefits for EEDI and EEXI, reduce emissions and costs relating to EU ETS, and positively impact CII ratings.
bound4blue eSAILs have a typical payback period of less than five years and are suitable for either new builds or retrofitting across a wide range of vessel segments and includes tankers, bulkers, Ro-Ros, cruises, ferries, gas carriers, and general cargo vessels.