DNV Revises Green Tech Outlook Amidst Wind Propulsion Lag | Mariner News
DNV has revised its outlook for green shipping technologies, reporting a significant lack of commercial momentum for wind propulsion despite its considerable cost advantages over alternative fuels. The classification society observed “no tailwind” for the promising technology, as a substantial wave of orders has yet to materialize.
According to DNV, a shipowner can save up to USD 50 per metric ton of CO2 reduced by utilizing wind propulsion. This contrasts sharply with sailing on ammonia, which DNV estimates can cost up to USD 300 per metric ton of CO2 saved, making wind six times more cost-effective in CO2 abatement based on these figures.
Despite this clear economic benefit for decarbonization, the low uptake suggests that factors beyond operational cost savings are hindering broader adoption. These likely include non-economic barriers such as infrastructure challenges, perceived operational complexities, regulatory uncertainty, or a lack of market confidence in the technology’s scalability and long-term viability.
The industry has seen various initiatives exploring wind power, including Wallenius Marine’s MV Way Forward featuring two wing sails, Maersk testing rotor sails on a container ship, and Eastern Pacific Shipping asserting that wind can cut emissions by over 20%. These projects highlight ongoing interest and research, yet the DNV assessment indicates a disconnect between development, demonstrated advantage, and large-scale fleet investment.
