As the world grapples with the reality of climate change, many industries are looking to innovative, greener solutions to reduce their carbon footprints. Michelin, a renowned tire company, has broadened its horizons, sailing into the realm of maritime transport with an extraordinary invention – a ground-breaking sailing wing named Wisamo. Offering promises of increased fuel efficiency and lower emissions, this sailing wing could transform the future of marine transportation.
The concept of Wisamo, a portmanteau of “Wing Sail” and “Mobility”, was introduced by Michelin in 2021, targeting green maritime transportation. The concept itself appears straightforward – an automated, inflatable, retractable sail wing. However, its potential impacts are substantial, with claims that this single invention could reduce fuel consumption by 20% per vessel. Its versatility lends itself to a variety of vessels, from commercial ships to yachts, making it a universally applicable solution.
Throughout the latter half of 2021 and into 2022, Michelin engineers and the Wisamo team initiated the first testing campaign using a 100-square meter (1,076 square feet) prototype of the sail wing. The tests took place under various conditions, including harsh winter environments in the Bay of Biscay, and on different vessels, including the sailboat of famed French sailor Michel Desjoyeaux.
Encouraged by the success of these initial trials, Michelin proceeded to test the Wisamo wing on a commercial ship. Collaborating with Compagnie Maritime Nantaise, Michelin installed another prototype on the MN Pelican container ship, turning the vessel into a floating laboratory to study the system’s performance under real-world conditions. The ship, now equipped with a Wisamo wing, carried out its usual route in the Gulf of Gascogne, between Poole, Great Britain, and Bilbao, Spain, with Michelin experts onboard to monitor the technical aspects of the wing.
The Wisamo project’s unique feature is its inflatable, fully-retractable, and automated sail wing, which operates on a digital control panel. Its optimized inflatable design, equipped with an internal fan system, maintains its shape even under harsh conditions, and can absorb shocks for increased efficiency. This fully automated system allows any ship to easily enter ports or pass under bridges.
Taking these benefits into consideration, the Wisamo system becomes a promising solution to the maritime industry’s pressing need to reduce CO2 emissions by 40% by 2030 and by 70% per vessel by 2050, globally. It stands as a testament to the transformative power of innovation, as industries pivot towards more sustainable practices.
If all goes according to plan, the next phase will involve testing a full-size sail on a similar ship. This will truly mark the turning point for the project, illustrating the viability of the Wisamo wing for widespread adoption in maritime transport.
In the words of Michel Desjoyeaux, the ambassador of the Wisamo project, “Wisamo is a very advanced system that ticks many boxes. It’s an aesthetically pleasing solution with shapes reminiscent of a famous little man who makes tires! This wing has the great advantage of being adaptable in a ‘plug & play’ mode to any ship that wants to use the free energy of the wind.”
The Wisamo project is a bold stride towards harnessing the universal and renewable energy of the wind, setting the course for a greener future in maritime transportation.
