Deal highlights the advantages of offshore application for a post-carbon future, using wind propulsion solutions to meet sustainability goals.

Norsepower Oy , the leading global provider of auxiliary wind propulsion systems, signed a contract with Socatra, the leading French ship owner and operator, for the retrofit installation of two Norsepower Rotor Sails™️ on the Medium Range (MR) tanker Alcyone.

The 50,000 dwt, 2022 built, French flag tanker – chartered by global energy company TotalEnergies – will be retrofitted with two 35 m x 5 m Norsepower Rotor Sails™️. The units will be delivered in December 2023 from Norsepower’s new production hub in China, with installation scheduled for Q4 2023 or Q1 2024.

Recent calculations indicate that the average fuel and carbon emission reductions will be 8% for the ship as it transits between South Korea and French Polynesia, with the potential for further savings using voyage optimisation reaching up to 2,000 tons of CO2 per annum. Taking a holistic approach to decarbonisation and combining clean technology solutions enables key progress towards emissions reduction goals, minimising fuel costs, enabling carbon regulatory compliance, and improving IMO Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) ratings.

Tuomas Riski, CEO of Norsepower, commented: “It is fantastic to see that the Norsepower Rotor Sail™️ has been embraced by a leading company like Socatra. We are proud to be working with the team to support them in making critical sustainability progress in their operations. As our first client in the French market, it is a testament to the versatility and adaptability of our technology.

“The Norsepower Rotor Sail™️ is particularly well-suited to tankers, with a strong track record of proven performance. This is why we are confident that we can achieve at least 8% fuel consumption saving, based on existing data and projections, ensuring Socatra lead the way for more planet-positive operations for others in the oil industry.”

Laurent Bozzoni, Socatra CEO, added: “As the oil industry is moving towards a low-carbon future, it is everyone’s responsibility to put forward tangible and economically viable solutions. We are pleased to be working with Norsepower to accelerate this transition and minimise our environmental footprint. The Norsepower Rotor Sail™️ is widely recognised as a proven solution for sea-going vessels, and we believe that our MR tanker Alcyone will benefit from significant efficiency gains and help us reduce our CO2 emissions.”

Jérome Cousin, Senior Vice President Shipping at TotalEnergies said: “The installation of two Norsepower Rotor Sails™️ on Alcyone contributes to TotalEnergies’ Net Zero ambition by providing an immediate reduction of the carbon footprint of our shipping activities. We reaffirm our commitment to promoting innovative solutions for more sustainable shipping and actively support the deployment of the most promising technologies. The success of this project could pave the way for a broader adoption of wind- assisted propulsion for TotalEnergies’ fleet.”