Optimal integrated onboard renewable energy solutions, by considering Wind-Assisted Propulsion Systems (ZEWT Partnership)

Funded projects are expected to deliver:

• A validated standardized methodology for monitoring, recording and verifying wind energy from WAP devices integrated into shipboard GHG intensity calculations (Fuel EU Maritime & IMO LCA).

• A standardized framework ensuring certainty in WAP emission-reduction claims, strengthening Fuel EU Maritime Regulation implementation.

• Uniform rules, regulations, assessment criteria and sea-trial procedures for WAP solutions fostering market uptake.

• Support for the standardisation of IMO LCA guidelines relevant to wind-assisted propulsion.

• A suite of standardized design alternatives and decision-making criteria to facilitate WAP retrofitting on existing vessels over the next decade.

• Addressed safety and operational impacts on ships, ports and land infrastructure, increasing market confidence in WAP.

• Demonstrable contribution to competitiveness and strategic autonomy of the EU waterborne sector by providing cost-effective WAP solutions to EU shipyards and equipment manufacturers.

• Enhanced EU research and innovation capacity, technological know-how, human capital and industrial resilience via defined IP management and exploitation strategies.

• Documented KPI reporting to the ZEWT partnership, evidencing progress towards zero-emission waterborne transport.

Eligible proposals must address all of the following:
1. Demonstrate at least one full-scale WAP solution on a commercial or research vessel, including on-board management, control and monitoring systems to validate the standardized methodology.
2. Develop and validate a standardized methodology for monitoring, recording, verification and integration of WAP energy into GHG intensity calculations aligned with Fuel EU Maritime and IMO LCA guidelines.
3. Cover multiple WAP technologies (rotor sails, rigid/soft wing sails, ventilated foils, etc.) and be applicable to all ship types and operations.
4. Deliver a holistic design-optimization framework as a decision-support tool for industry uptake, offering tailor-made solutions by ship type, route and profile.
5. Deploy state-of-the-art sensors and digital technologies for continuous monitoring of energy availability, consumption, performance optimization, energy savings and emissions mitigation.
6. Assess environmental and socio-economic benefits: reduction of air/water pollutants, underwater noise, biodiversity impacts, and cost-effectiveness, alone or combined with other low/zero-emission or efficiency measures.
7. Address safety and operational challenges for ships, ports and associated infrastructure when introducing WAP and hybrid solutions.
8. Address scalability and adaptability for retrofitting the existing fleet under real environmental and climate-driven wind conditions, promoting standardization.
9. Develop and compare multiple business cases; propose market incentives or measures to overcome low confidence and stimulate WAP uptake.
10. Articulate objectives, results, IP management and exploitation strategy that contribute to EU added value, strategic autonomy, competitiveness of the waterborne sector, enhancement of R&I capacity, technological know-how and human capital, and EU industrial resilience.
11. Prioritize partnerships with shipyards, equipment manufacturers and suppliers based in the EU and EEA.
12. Commit to report results and KPIs to the ZEWT partnership.