Friday 30 October 2020

Food giant Cargill to use yacht racing technology to cut CO2 emissions from shipping

Food giant Cargill to use yacht racing technology to cut CO2 emissions from shipping

Food giant Cargill has announced a new partnership to deploy yacht racing technology to shrink the carbon footprint of its shipping operations.

The collaboration with the British firm BAR Technologies, a spin-off from Ben Ainslie Racing, the British team formed by Olympic and World Champion sailor Sir Ben Ainslie, will see wing sails which measure up to 45 metres in height fitted to the deck of bulk cargo ships to harness the power of the wind.

The technology is forecast to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 30%.

The project is currently in the design phase and the first vessels are expected to start their first journeys by 2022.

Jan Dieleman, President of Cargill’s Ocean Transportation Business commented: "Through this partnership, we will bring bespoke wind solutions to customers who are actively seeking to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from their supply chain.

"Cargill will be able to offer customers a solution that improves vessel efficiency, independent of the fuel or type of engine used."

John Cooper, Chief Executive Officer of BAR Technologies, said: "Wind is a near marginal cost-free fuel and the opportunity for reducing emissions, alongside significant efficiency gains in vessel operating costs, is substantial."

Maritime transport emits around 940 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year and is responsible for about 2.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Written by

Bruna Pinhoni

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