Only a couple of months after GT Wings partnered with A2O Manufacturing and KS Composites to test its AirWing technology on Carisbrooke Shipping’s multipurpose vessel, the technology provider has now received grant support from the UK government.
The United Kingdom’s Department for Transport provided a £225,000 (€270,000) grant to GT Wings through the Smart Shipping Acceleration Fund (SSAF). SSAF is part of the Department’s UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme, a £206 million (€247.2 million) initiative focused on developing the technology necessary to decarbonise the UK domestic maritime sector.
The system aims to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions by up to 30 per cent. The technology is designed to help ship owners meet stringent environmental regulations while achieving significant cost savings.
The first installation is scheduled for a Carisbrooke Shipping vessel in the fourth quarter of 2024, marking a major step forward in the adoption of wind propulsion technology for commercial shipping.
GT Wings expects the funding to propel its technology to the next level, integrating AI-driven, self-learning control systems to optimise performance in real time.
“In collaboration with the University of Bath and Carisbrooke Shipping, this project is a major step forward in our mission to help decarbonise the maritime industry and significantly reduce fuel consumption and GHG emissions,” the company said.
