Sweden Launches SEK 9.4 Million Wind Propulsion Vessel R&D Project

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 8, Swedish marine technology company Wallenius Marine announced the implementation arrangements for WinPrOVeDD, a wind propulsion vessel design research project. The total project budget is approximately SEK 9.4 million, of which about SEK 5.6 million is provided as research funding by the Swedish Energy Agency. Wallenius Marine is conducting the research jointly with KTH, RISE, and AlfaWall Oceanbird, focusing on analyzing the aerodynamic coupling between ship deck layout, above-waterline hull structures, and wind propulsion devices such as wing sails. The research is scheduled for completion in December 2029.

WinPrOVeDD stands for Wind Propulsion Oriented Vessel Deck Design and is led by Wallenius Marine. The research subjects include wind propulsion systems such as wing sails and rotor sails, as well as the effects of decks, freeboard, and large deck equipment on airflow around the hull. The Swedish Energy Agency's project record explicitly states that airflow interference generated by above-waterline hull structures may limit the performance of wind propulsion systems, and the research will carry out dedicated hull form optimization design targeting these structures.

The research team will first develop innovative hull form concepts suitable for wind propulsion, then combine computer numerical simulation and wind tunnel testing to conduct aerodynamic validation of different design concepts. The tests will focus on the airflow conditions created by the hull form and superstructure, as well as the wind energy utilization performance of devices such as wing sails under different layouts, and will be used to screen design concepts accordingly.

The official project implementation period is from September 2026 to December 2029. The research results will form open-access ship design guidelines for use by ship design institutions, shipyards, and shipowners. Currently available public information does not disclose the specific test vessel type, number of wing sails, wind tunnel test scale, target propulsion power, or expected fuel savings ratio.

The project number registered with the Swedish Energy Agency is P2026-01372, and the administrative registration number is 2026-203818. The research funding formally approved by the agency is SEK 5,632,655, accounting for approximately 60% of the project budget. The funding allocation covers four years from 2026 to 2029, and the project belongs to the sustainable transport systems research program.