The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) in the UK is launching a new project to design and demonstrate a commercially viable High Efficiency Propulsion System for ships which could see fuel consumption reduced by around 8%.

A Request for Proposals has been issued seeking partners capable of delivering the project which should be suitable for deployment on a range of different ships including general cargo and container vessels.

The successful respondents will be expected to create a design which will be manufactured and tested in a controlled environment, before being retrofitted and demonstrated on a test vessel.

Deborah Stubbs, the ETI’s High Efficiency Propulsion System project Manager said: “Heavy duty vehicles including shipping currently contribute 8% to the UK’s CO2 emissions. Apart from bio-fuels, the low carbon options for replacing fossil fuels as their energy source are limited so increasing fuel efficiency will be increasingly important if emissions and costs are to be reduced.

“Efficiency can be improved in a number of ways including reducing the ship’s thrust demand or increasing propeller area. However, there are practical constraints such as how to integrate devices onto existing vessels and issues around noise and durability.
“This project will aim to develop and demonstrate a commercially viable solution, which is robust, durable and reliable and suitable for a range of different types of vessels.”

The request for proposals will close on 3rd June 2016; the deadline for notification of intention to submit a proposal is 22nd April 2016.

The ETI has recently issued an Expression of Interest for organisations interested in taking part in a project which will deliver a full scale demonstrator of Flettner Rotor technology on a large ocean going vessel. The Expression of Interest for the Flettner Rotor Supply and Fit Project will close on 15th April 2016. The deadline for notification of intention to submit a proposal is 31 March 2016.The EoI is available here A further Request for Proposals will be issued shortly in the HDV Marine Programme for a Waste Heat Recovery System project to further improve the efficiency of shipping.
Source: Energy Technologies Institute