An age of greener, more efficient shipping may be in the offing as a specially modified 43,000-tonne bulk freighter completes a six-month sea trial using a combination of diesel engines and a set of high-tech automatic sails to catch the wind.
  • Mr_Blott@lemmy.world
    25·
    8 months ago

    Great idea but a cargo ship has like 2% top surface showing, the rest is containers of future landfill :(

    • Magrath
      51·
      8 months ago

      I’m sure they could put temporary solar panels on the containers. It would be more work but would it save enough on fuel to make it worth it? Who knows.

      • grue@lemmy.worldEnglish
        11·
        8 months ago

        It would be more work but would it save enough on fuel to make it worth it? Who knows.

        Even without doing the math, I feel pretty confident saying that the answer is “no.”

        • frostwhitewolf@lemmy.world
          6·
          8 months ago

          The amount of fuel these ships consume to propel themselves is astronomical. Petroleum fuel has a waaaayy higher energy density than lithium batteries. Around 46 MJ/kg vs 6 MJ/kg…it’s simply not practical.

          Nuclear ships on the other hand…

          Edit: This isnt really a fair comparison because of the efficiency differences between ICEs and electric motors but it does show the energy storage inefficiency per kg of current battery storage technologies. Not sure if there’s a better comparison metric to use…

      • Marin_Rider@aussie.zone
        1·
        8 months ago

        maybe a roll-out top made of those flexible panels that is extended when ship is loaded. I guess securing it though with wind and stuff might be a problem