Monday 3/11/2008 Page: 74
ONCE sails on boats were used to harness the wind. Now they are being used to capture the power of the sun. For almost 10 years, Sydney renewable energy company Solar Sailor has been putting solar wings on boats, ranging from luxury yachts, to ferries, to harbour cruisers. Now it's struck a deal with China's biggest shipping company COSCO to develop wind and solar energy technology for giant tanker and bulker ships.The company has signed a memorandum of understanding with the shipping giant to design and engineer wind and solar energy units for the monoliths of the sea. Solar Sailor is a member of the NSW Government's Australian Technology Showcase program and has patented technology that consists of solar panels that look like wings.
The ones designed for the tanker and bulker will be as big as the wings of an A380 and will be covered with solar panels to capture the sun's energy while also harnessing the energy of the ocean's winds. "This is a case of back to the future back to the days of sailing ships but to the future in terms of high technology solar and wind sails operated by computer rather than sailcloth and rigging manned by crews," State Development Minister Ian Macdonald said.
"Up until now this technology has only been used on smaller vessels but this new partnership with one of the world's biggest shipping companies aims to see it put to use on tanker and bulker ships. This technology will allow COSCO to supplement the use of ship fuel with renewable energy to cut costs and environmental emissions." Solar Sailor will spend the next 16 months designing, engineering and retrofitting its technology in a pilot test.
1 comments:
Very cool! I think we best be getting on with the promise of making America energy independent.Iran just asked OPEC to reduce production by yet another 1.5 million barrels per day.This past year and the record gas prices played a huge part in our economic meltdown and seriously damaged our society.We keep planning to spend BILLIONS on bailouts and stimulus plans.Bail us out of our dependence on foreign oil. Make electric plug in car technology more affordable. It cost the equivalent of 60 cents a gallon to drive an electric plug in car. The electric could be generated from wind or solar. Get with it! Utilize free sources such as wind and solar. Stop throwing away money on things that don't work. Invest in America and it's energy independence. Create cheap clean energy, create millions of badly needed green collar jobs. Put America back to work. It is a win-win situation. We have to become more poractive citizens, educate ourselves and demand our elected officials move this country forward into the era of energy independence. Jeff Wilson's new book The Manhattan Project of 2009 Energy Independence NOW outlines a plan for America to wean itself off oil. We need a plan and we need it now! www.themanhattanprojectof2009.com
Post a Comment