America's Cup Delivers on Green Mobility

The Singapore Formula One Grand Prix was held over the weekend of Sept. 20 to 22, reminding me of the often-justified claims that technology developed by race car makers for one of the pinnacles of motorsport has contributed to advances in mobility. Take for example regenerative braking that was pioneered in F1, and the long history of employing lightweight carbon-fiber composites.

For this Singapore-based author, attention now turns to what’s often referred to as Formula One racing on the sea. The world’s oldest international sporting event — the America's Cup — is entering its final phases in Barcelona, Spain, over the next few weeks. And this competition also is starting to produce propulsion technologies that are helping merchant shippers and workboat operators reduce fuel consumption and, consequently, their crafts' environmental wake.

Wind assist

UK-based BAR Technologies was founded by Sir Ben Ainslie, multiple Olympic gold medalist and captain of the British America’s Cup team still in contention at the latest iteration of the event with the intent of applying techniques developed for racing yachts to the broader maritime sector. One of the first successes was WindWings wind-assisted propulsion (WAP) technology — essentially composite-based solid sails adapted for commercial shipping — that slashed fuel consumption by up to 20% on a 300-meter bulk carrier, translating to a saving of 11 tonnes of fuel per day. The company has since developed smaller, 20-to-24-m-high WindWings versions for handysize bulkers, chemical tankers, and smaller vessels, increasing the target fleet size by 50%. Larger WindWings are 37.5-m-high (aerodynamic span) with 750 m² of surface area

Related:Workboat Hull Crafted from Renewable Plastics

Above the waterline

Spectators and online viewers of America's Cup events will notice that, all going well and with sufficient wind speed, the racing yachts will exit what’s known as displacement mode and literally glide above the waterline using foils. Composite-based foil technology is now being deployed in crew transfer workboats for the offshore wind industry via another BAR Technologies initiative. Dubbed the Foil Optimized Stability System (FOSS), the technology raises the boat hull clear of the water as it propels itself forward, resulting in less fuel consumption, increased top speed, and a smoother ride.

Foiled workboats not only save on fuel but can contribute to fewer aborted crew transfer missions through a smoother ride. Image courtesy of BAR Technologies.

North Sea technicians transit to wind turbines in up to 2-m-high seas and they must arrive fit for work. If any of these “non pro” sailors are seasick then all passengers (up to 24) must return to port immediately. These abortive trips cost wind turbine OEMs large amounts of money, so superior seakeeping is an essential part of the vessel’s key requirements, according to BAR Technologies. The 30-m ProA workboat’s FOSS reduces vertical acceleration by between 35% and 70% and fuel consumption by 30 to 50%.

Foiled again

Back at the America's Cup, alternative drive trains are being deployed in chase boats to keep pace with the foiling catamarans as they race, one of which — the since eliminated American Magic — was clocked maxing out at 53.31 knots (over 61 mph). The protocol for the 37th America's Cup mandates that each competing team must have at least one hydrogen-powered support vessel (HSV) in the race area. The hydrogen-powered chase boats must be capable of maintaining a minimum speed of 25 knots and have a range of at least 180 nautical miles.

Foil technology is again being employed to boost the performance and efficiencies of several of the chase boats on the America's Cup course. Australian boat builder McConaghy Boats fabricated the chase boat for Emirates Team New Zealand, which takes flight on its foils at 19 knots, can cruise in eco-friendly mode at 30 to 35 knots, and tops out at 52.7 knots. The company is eyeing taking the technology further to build a 300-seat passenger ferry.

America's Cup entrants must deploy at least one hydrogen-fueled chase boat within the race area. Image courtesy of Bluegame.

For its part, Italian motor yacht maker Bluegame built the US team’s hydrogen-powered foiling chase boat. Central to its drive train are composite hydrogen fuel tanks rated at 350 bar that are part of a system delivered by NatPower H, a leading developer for the production, storage, and distribution of green hydrogen.