Sailing On Sun And Wind

New Ship With Rigid Solar Sails Harnesses the Power of Sun and Wind at the Same Time

Kyree Leary, January 26, 2018 (Futurism)

“…In 2019 the world’s first solar energy sails will be put to the test. Called EnergySails, the [Japanese] technology should enable ships to use both solar and wind energy at the same time…The EnergySails themselves [made of carbon fiber or steel] will also help ships collect and store energy even while docked…[and can] be stored during rough weather conditions…[Feasibility tests on multiple ships are now being conducted] to estimate how much propulsion an EnergySail system could provide to the ships while also accounting for how much solar power the on-board panels would receive on each individual ship’s route…[One ship will be chosen for a 12 to 18 month trial and] fitted with an array of EnergySails, solar panels on deck, and the hardware necessary to monitor and control every part of the system…[It has not yet been determined what the] EnergySail-equipped ships will be hauling…” click here for more

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