Life Cycle Assessment and Artificial Intelligence in Wind-Assisted Ship Propulsion

Wind-assisted ship propulsion, also referred to as wind power for ships, has established itself as a proven technological solution to reduce shipping emissions and meet increasingly stringent regulations, such as those of the International Maritime Organisation. Indeed, reductions in carbon dioxide emissions have been evidenced for both retrofits and new builds, with increased efficiency achieved thanks to operational optimisation, e.g. weather routing. With numerous options available, ranging from sails to Flettner rotors to kites, and increasing uptake on large vessels, a strong case for wind as both a short and long-term solution can be made. However, there remain limitations in the tank-to-wake approach to life cycle assessment for wind-assisted ships, and recent advances in artificial intelligence afford new opportunities to quantify the emission reduction potential of wind propulsion systems, as well as their commercial viability. Consequently, in this work, we investigate (i) life cycle assessment for wind-assisted ships; (ii) the commercial viability of Flettner rotors in order to identify any optimum cost-effective solution for decarbonization, and (iii) the role of artificial intelligence in advancing and supporting the growth and techno-economic optimization of wind power for ships. These results offer novel insights into recent advances in wind power for ships, particularly with respect to well-to-wake life cycle assessment and the commercial implications of wind propulsion systems for emission reduction through the emerging use of artificial intelligence. It is anticipated that these findings will support future regulatory and policy developments, as well as inform subsequent research directions for maritime decarbonization.