In a world where 90% of our daily essentials depend on resources transported across oceans, the shipping industry’s impact on the environment is massive. bound4blue is here to save the day with their eSAIL® system which powers ships towards sustainability.
The Spanish cleantech engineering company was born upon recognising that something needed to be done about how we transport goods by sea. Cristina Aleixendri, José Miguel, and David Ferrer – co-founders at bound4blue all have backgrounds in aerospace engineering and know a thing or two about aerodynamics, so naturally this became central in their solution.
As engineers, the team are always looking to find solutions to problems. With aeronautical engineering expertise, they’ve spent almost all their professional life studying the aerodynamics of aeroplane wings. When Cristina, José Miguel, and David saw that the problem of shipping was the high fuel consumption and pollutant emissions, they realised that the solution was to install modern sails (similar to aeroplane wings) to co-propel ships.
The Need for Green Technologies On Ships & Vessels
At its core, what bound4blue wants more than anything else is for there to be greener technologies within maritime sectors around the world; such as those required by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). In 2022 alone shipping contributed 2.8% of total CO2 emissions globally, so it’s clear that now more than ever before we need sustainable alternatives. However, shifting to alternative fuels is anticipated to escalate costs significantly, ranging from 3 to 10 times more than conventional fuels. The current landscape is further complicated because fuel constitutes the highest operational expense for shipowners, accounting for approximately 60% of their expenditures.
That being so, there exists a pressing need for solutions that not only align with sustainability objectives but also ensure the economic viability of shipowners and operators. The intersection of environmental responsibility and financial considerations underscores the complexity of the challenges bound4blue’s project aims to overcome.
bound4blue eSAIL® System
However, not everything needs saving because some things are good enough as they are – like the eSAIL® system developed by bound4blue. Inspired by the efficiency of aeroplane wings, bound4blue realised that the solution was to install modern suction sails to co-propel ships, proven to be 7 times more efficient than those on planes. It works brilliantly (if you ask me) because instead of using regular sails or engines powered with fossil fuels, their innovative solution harnesses wind power to generate clean thrust, reducing engine workload, cutting fuel consumption, and minimising emissions. The sails also work autonomously, are suitable for retrofitting and new builds and can be titled if needed for loading/unloading operations.
This eSAIL® system is more than just another invention; it’s a game changer for the maritime industry. It has already been designed and tested on four ships, patented worldwide, and has been recognised by international entities such as the Solar Impulse Foundation, Forbes 30under30, and MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35.
In 2023, the company raised more than €22M with the support of the European Commission, major corporate investors, and Venture Capital (VC). This investment has enabled bound4blue to advance in its next strategic milestones, being used to impulse further development of the eSAIL® technology and its commercialisation, as well as expanding the company’s productive and personnel capacities. Other significant achievements include improving the system’s aerodynamic performance by two times.
How Much Can A Shipping Company Expect to Save On Energy Consumption If They Are to Install An eSAIL® System?
One example would be the 17-meter-high eSAIL® system on the Eems Traveller resulting in annual savings of 245 tons of CO2 and 76.7 tons of fuel, equivalent to approximately a 10% reduction, translating to a significant $57,525 annual savings.
Similarly, the impactful installation of three 22-meter-high sails on the Ville de Bordeaux is projected to yield annual savings of 2705 tons of CO2 and 845.3 tons of fuel, around 10%, leading to $591,710 annual savings. Notably, the efficiency of the propeller is enhanced by 20% with the incorporation of bound4blue’s eSAIL®.
Furthermore, a ship utilising 40% wind propulsion has the potential to decrease underwater radiated noise by 28 km which reduces the impact that vessel noise pollution has on marine life, especially whales and other marine mammals that rely on echolocation as a form of communication.
A Future Outlook
In 2027, bound4blue anticipates preventing over 400,000 tons of CO2 emissions and saving more than 130,000 tons of fuel. The projection from now until 2027 is to avert nearly 573,000 tons of CO2 emissions and conserve over 180,000 tons of fuel.
By 2025, the annual impact is expected to include saving 109 tons of particulate matter, reducing 9,250 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx), and decreasing 1,010 tons of sulphur oxides (SOx) emissions, contributing to minimising coastal deposition and mitigating the acidification and eutrophication of soils and freshwater. The widespread adoption of this innovative sail across the fleet has the potential to reduce shipping’s annual CO2 emissions by more than 100 million tons.
In terms of social impact, bound4blue is a catalyst for infrastructure modernisation, job creation, and increased global prosperity. In 2023, the company directly created 40 jobs and over 53 indirect jobs, contributing to a 2.66M€ auxiliary turnover for suppliers.
bound4blue’s eSAIL® plays a pivotal role in the maritime industry’s goals to become more sustainable. By adapting aerodynamic principles to ship propulsion, bound4blue pioneers a transformative solution to combat global emissions and reduce fuel costs for shipping fleets. The eSAIL® system not only aligns with the IMO’s Sustainability Targets for 11% carbon intensity reduction by 2026 and 70% by 2025, but it also offers tangible economic benefits for shipowners and operators. With its proven efficacy, global recognition, and substantial investments, bound4blue brings hope to revolutionise the maritime sector, fostering a future where emission-free shipping is not just an aspiration but a practical reality, steering us towards a cleaner and more sustainable maritime industry.
Curious to learn more about bound4blue’s revolutionary technology? Reach out to their team at sales@bound4blue.com or visit their LinkedIn page here.
