31 January 2025
This Book Chapter serves as an Annex to MEPC 83/7/24 Fifth IMO GHG Study - terms of reference considerations. Chapter 15 of World Maritime University (WMU) Maritime Week 2024: Beyond Horizons: Maritime Sustainability conference, entitled "Eye of the Storm: Energy Transition through a Wind Propulsion Lens". This report focuses on the energy transition from a wind propulsion perspective and highlights a number of key issues that serve as a direct example of how the underlying assumptions and approaches to policy development have a tendency to exclude, downplay or undervalue the contribution of new technologies, non-commoditized zero-emissions energy sources and complimentary operational and support technology approaches. Full book is available here: https://commons.wmu.se/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1012&context=lib_books#page=[209]
This document highlights and questions a series of baseline assumptions and considerations which will underpin sections of the proposed Fifth IMO GHG Study’s terms of reference (TOR) as discussed during ISWG-GHG 17 and in reference to document MEPC 83/7/2 (Secretariat) on the revision of the Secretariat’s preliminary analysis and proposed TOR. Careful consideration of the holistic approach to energy provision, technology readiness levels, emission profiles, emission forecasting and comparative analysis of energy solutions is crucial to ensure fair transition pathways. Furthermore, ensuring the use of the best possible available science, data and methodologies to guarantee valid outcomes is increasingly important as new technologies and previously little-researched energy sources are now becoming more mainstream. This submission is not a definitive appraisal based on wind propulsion energy provision but instead uses wind propulsion as an example of how these assumptions and approaches can severely impact the assessment of one particular technology basket, which will be applicable to other low and zero-emission energy sources, technologies and operational approaches.
31 January 2025
This document contains in the annex the "proposed assessment methodology tiers to measure wind propulsion in the attained GFI" as referred to in document MEPC 83/7/33 (IWSA).
This document provides a set of assessment methodologies for wind propulsion installation energy contributions so that wind energy can be incorporated into the mid-term measures developed to implement the 2023 IMO Strategy on reduction of GHG emissions from ships, with reference to the technical measures currently being prepared. This set of tiered methodologies support the proposed amended formula outlined in document MEPC 82/7/9 (IWSA) which in turn is based on the work presented in document ISWG-GHG 16/2/7 (Austria et al.). This proposed tiered approach to the application of these methodologies enables a level of flexibility without compromising accuracy enabling iterative improvements and optimization of these approaches as further knowledge and data feedback into the system framework. The Annex to this paper is published separately as MEPC 83/INF.33 Proposed assessment methodology tiers to measure wind propulsion in the GFI
September 2024
Wind propulsion for ships offers significant possibilities for reduction of harmful emissions. This guideline aims at establishing a consistent terminology for evaluating the performance of wind propulsion during the design phase. Objective: The guideline focuses on methodologies for predicting the power savings achieved by wind-powered vessels along specific routes during the design stage. It compares these savings to corresponding ships that do not utilize wind propulsion. Method Overview: The guideline provides an overview of suitable methods for different stages of the design process, balancing confidence levels and computational costs. By linking standard indicators to prediction procedures of varying confidence levels, the guideline aims to build a shared understanding among all stakeholders. Target Audience: Organizations engaged in performance predictions for wind-powered ships (such as consultants, shipyards, and technology providers) will find this guideline valuable. Additionally,stakeholders involved in discussions about performance indicators—such as ship owners, operators and investors—can indirectly benefit from its standardised terminology. Scope: While primarily applicable to cargo vessels equipped with wind assistance technology, the guideline can also be partially adapted for vessels relying primarily on wind propulsion. However, it explicitly excludes sailing yachts, racing boats, and traditional sailing vessels.
Sea trials for assessing the power saving from wind assisted propulsion The purpose of this procedure is to provide a short-term method for verification of the power saving due to a Wind Propulsion Technology (WPT) installation. The minimum test program can be conducted within one day and includes around 5 wind conditions. The scope can be extended to include a larger number of conditions, and be conducted over a longer period of time during operation.
