Harnessing Wind Power to Decarbonize Sailing Vessels: Utilizing Marine Wind Energy for a Greener Maritime Industry
Hell yeah, let's dive into the visionary world of Beyond the Sea!
These French badasses are blending sailing, tech and climate activism to revolutionize the maritime shipping industry. The brainchild of legendary sailor Yves Parlier, Beyond the Sea is here to cut those damn carbon emissions from commercial ships like a hot knife through butter.
They'll be showcasing one of the most badass, scalable clean propulsion solutions at the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3) in Nice, baby! In an exclusive chat with their fearless leader, Marc Thienpont, we got the lowdown on their game-changing plan.
Beyond the Sea was born in 2014, and they've been steadily gaining recognition ever since. They bagged €1 million in funding from Team for the Planet in December 2021.
It's All About Decarbonization, Honey!
The shipping sector is responsible for around 3% of global CO₂ emissions, and Marc warns it could grow as international trade expands. He says, "If the global merchant fleet were a country, it would be the sixth-largest emitter of CO₂ on the planet."
To tackle this crisis, Beyond the Sea is developing wind-assist technologies that can slash fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. These babies promise reductions of 20%-40%, depending on the vessel's type, size, and route.
Small, Simple, but oh so Effective!
Their solution? Automated kites that get shipped on vessels as valuable sidekicks to traditional engines. This ain't no kid's kite, we're talking high-performance beauties that can be easily fitted onto all kinds of ships, from fishing vessels to supertankers - no major structural changes necessary!
Marc is dead serious: "With this kite-based propulsion solution, we can significantly decarbonize the global fleet—even the ships that are already in service. That's what we call retrofitting. A ship typically has a lifespan of 20 to 25 years. Today, there are about 100,000 merchant ships operating worldwide. But global shipyards can only produce around 1,500 new vessels per year. Even if we replaced 1,500 ships annually for the next 20 years, we'd only reach about 30,000—well short of what's needed to meet climate targets. Retrofitting isn't just an option; it's a necessity."
Two Genius Kites Already Shining Bright
Beyond the Sea has two main kites at the ready:
- The LibertyKite (10-80 m2) for small vessels, like leisure boats and fishing trawlers. This baby is already popular—over 300 units have been sold, and it's even used by 70% of Vendee Globe race yachts as an emergency propulsion system.
- The SeaKite (50-200 m2) for larger commercial vessels. They're currently in pilot programs, featuring large kites (up to 200 m2), super strong lines, a deck-mounted winch and sensor system, and an AI-powered autopilot.
So, How Does it All Work?
The kite is launched using a simple deployment and recovery mechanism. Once airborne, it performs dynamic flight maneuvers (similar to a kitesurfer's tricks) within a "wind window." This creates its own wind and generates up to 10 times more power than a static sail.
Marc explains: "Traditional sails are fixed. The ship must align itself to the wind. But a kite moves—it creates its own apparent wind, enabling it to generate up to ten times more power than a static sail."
Turning up the Heat in the Tech Department
Beyond the Sea's kites feature aerospace-inspired design and a high-performance textile construction, ensuring they're both lightweight and durable. The kite systems are steered by an autonomous flight controller that adjusts to wind conditions in real-time, with AI taking it to the next level by optimizing the kite's wind window usage for maximum power.
Retrofitting: A Necessary Evolution
One of the key advantages of Beyond the Sea's kite propulsion system is its ability to retrofit seamlessly onto existing vessels without major structural overhauls. The installation process is straightforward, modular, and minimally invasive:
- A 9-11 meter retractable mast (made of carbon fiber or steel) is deployed during kite launch and recovery.
- Winches that can be installed flexibly across the ship are used for control and deployment.
- A load-bearing platform with integrated sensors is typically mounted toward the ship’s bow.
For large commercial ships, the integration process is particularly efficient, thanks to their already reinforced space beneath the forward deck, designed to handle heavy loads such as anchor chains and towing gear.
Who's This Technology For?
Everyone, baby! It promises benefits for small fishing vessels (where fuel costs are proportionally just as critical) to colossal container ships.
Marc estimates kite-assisted propulsion could reduce emissions depending on various factors such as ship size, hull shape, transit time flexibility, and route wind conditions. Transatlantic routes benefit from strong trade winds, while Asia-Europe routes face lighter winds but still reap significant gains.
Time to Take Us Seriously, Governments!
After over a decade of R&D, Beyond the Sea is entering full deployment mode. They're partnering with major players in the maritime industry, like the French Navy, Les Abeilles International, Ultranav, and Cap Bourbon, to test their tech and turbocharge maritime decarbonization.
Don't miss their live demonstration during UNOC-3, featuring the tugboat Jason, operated by Les Abeilles International and chartered by the French Navy!
Beyond the Sea's technology is already delivering impressive ROI for their clients, like the fishing operator on Reunion Island, where the payback period is just 18 months. Their clients are all about staying ahead of the game as fuel prices soar and emissions regulations tighten. With the International Maritime Organization (IMO) planning to slap carbon taxes on maritime emissions and negotiating a global carbon pricing framework, the pressure is on for the maritime industry to get green-or get left behind.
The Future of Wind Propulsion Awaits!
Besides collaborating with the maritime sector to advance their technology, Beyond the Sea is also working to standardize it for faster adoption across fleets. They're calling on political leaders, ocean advocates, and the maritime industry to put wind propulsion at the forefront of maritime decarbonization. As Yves Parlier so beautifully put it, "Wind propulsion—free, clean, abundant, and globally accessible—has the potential to cut fuel consumption by 20-30% immediately with existing technology. So why is it still so marginal in public funding and regulatory roadmaps? What's missing is not innovation, but direction and political will."
Let's ride the wind together and create a more sustainable future for our seas! The future of Beyond the Sea is your future. Are you ready to sail with them?
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COMPANY_NAME=Beyond the Sea
CONFERENCE=Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3)
SHIPPING_INDUSTRY=maritime shipping
REAL_WORLD_DEPLOYMENTS=French Navy, Les Abeilles International, Ultranav, Cap Bourbon
COLORS=
- RED: Important Warning
- BLUE: Quotations
- GREEN: Environmental Focus
- ORANGE: Technology Focus
- YELLOW: Question or Doubt
Symbols
☑️: Confirmation🔺: Noteworthy Point
- Beyond the Sea, a revolutionary French company, is combining sailing, technology, and climate activism to revolutionize the maritime shipping industry.
- They will showcase their scalable clean propulsion solution at the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3) in Nice.
- The shipping sector, responsible for about 3% of global CO₂ emissions, could grow as international trade expands, and Beyond the Sea aims to cut these emissions drastically.
- Beyond the Sea is developing wind-assist technologies that can slash fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, offering reductions of 20%-40% depending on the vessel's type, size, and route.
- Their solution involves automated kites that can be easily fitted onto various ships, ensuring significant decarbonization, even for ships already in service – a process known as retrofitting.
- The company has two main kites ready: the LibertyKite for small vessels and the SeaKite for larger commercial vessels, both featuring advanced technology and optimized for maximum power.
- These kites generate power by creating their own wind, performing dynamic flight maneuvers, and utilizing Artificial Intelligence for optimal usage.
- With the growing emphasis on sustainable finance, businesses, real estate, lifestyle, and investing, Beyond the Sea's technology promises benefits for all sectors, addressing climate-change concerns and creating a more environmentally-friendly future for travel, sports, and our overall lifestyle.
