Wind Auxiliary Propulsion technology secures Innovate UK funding

Awarded under the UK Department for Transport Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, the £2.2m funding is to further develop Bristol-based WingTek’s Wingsail, a Wind Auxiliary Propulsion system designed to be retrofitted to existing commercial vessels.

Wind Auxiliary Propulsion is designed to complement existing ship propulsion systems; primarily marine diesel engines that power all types of vessels across the global fleet.

In a statement, Neil Richards, WingTek managing director, said: “WingTek’s innovative Wind Auxiliary Propulsion system has received a significant boost thanks to the help and support of Innovate UK leading to this grant. We are delighted to be working with a fantastic set of project partners at the University of Bristol and the National Composites Centre and we are now well supported to fast-track the development on the route to commercial production.”

The project will deliver two full-size operational prototypes, one on-shore for long-term testing and development and a second unit installed on a commercial UK vessel for sea-trials, with the project scheduled to complete by March 2025.