Danish
Icelandic
WHISPER begins sea trials of wind-solar container system
The European innovation project WHISPER, led by Verkís, has reached an important milestone with the installation of SideWind’s wind-energy system, housed in specially modified containers, together with custom-designed Solbian solar panels aboard Samskip’s container ship Helgafell.
The equipment was installed aboard the vessel in Aarhus, Denmark, and sea trials began immediately afterwards as the ship sailed across the North Atlantic, arriving in Iceland on 24 August. The trials will take place over four scheduled voyages during the next three months and will provide valuable data on the operation, control and performance of the integrated wind and solar power system under real operating conditions.
The system is designed to reduce emissions from the vessel’s auxiliary engines. SideWind’s horizontal wind turbines are housed in specially modified containers topped with Solbian solar panels. The retrofit solution is designed for installation on vessels already in operation, making use of available deck space for renewable energy generation while requiring minimal modifications to the vessel itself.
Icelandic expertise in a European project
WHISPER is led by Verkís, with five of the project’s 13 partners being Icelandic companies: Verkís, SideWind, Samskip, BBA//Fjeldco and Athygli.
“Projects such as WHISPER are an important part of the transition to more sustainable shipping. The project is developing flexible, modular solutions that can be installed on vessels already in operation, making it possible to harness renewable energy available at sea. Such solutions are a valuable addition to the important developments already taking place in ports,” says Carine Chatenay, Civil Engineer at Verkís and WHISPER Project Manager.
The sea trials aboard Helgafell are part of WHISPER’s full-scale demonstration programme. Earlier in August, sea trials also began aboard Maria Topic, an Ultramax bulk carrier operated by Ant. TOPIC, where OceanWings rigid wingsails and Solbian solar panels have been installed. The wingsails use wind to provide additional propulsion and reduce emissions from the vessel’s main engine.
Read the full WHISPER announcement:
WHISPER installs hybrid wind-solar container system and begins sea trials on container ship
Learn more about WHISPER:
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