Output details

Determination of kite forces using three-dimensional flight trajectories for ship propulsion

Significance of output:

Shipping accounts for 3% of global anthropogenic CO2 emissions, equivalent to countries such as Germany and Japan. Auxiliary kite propulsion of merchant ships offers a means to reduce fuel consumption and hence emissions by up to 20%. This paper improves the accuracy with which predictions of fuel-savings can be made, allowing optimisation of key flight parameters. This research has been presented by invitation at 2 leading industrial conferences and 1 industry seminar. Recently a ~£20k feasibility study on application of the technology to a Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship was undertaken as consultancy for dstl (email: Robert Reeve, RWREEVE@mail.dstl.gov.uk).