[Bas]

This interesting video by a German company explains the kite system they developed with which conventional cargo ships can cut their fuel costs by a third.

This is their site: Skysails/english

[nemo]

That new video was very impressive. I thought it was the usual computer generated vaporware until they showed the prototype. The launch/recovery sequence blew me away, as I've struggled plenty with similar kites during my paragliding days.
If this concept works as advertised in real life conditions, I expect to see it widely adopted.

[Omnitir]

It's great to see this taking off (excuse the pun )
It's been a long time in development, and will probably be a while before we see it go mainstream.

This has previously been discussed here a few years ago:
http://www.peakoil.com/fortopic19638.html
http://www.peakoil.com/fortopic5401.html

The only thing with this, is that the fuel savings really don't count for much in the big scheme of things. But I'm not saying this because I think the saving don't matter - they do. I'm saying this because shipping already uses only a minuscule fraction of our oil consumption.

Shipping is actually the most efficient form of transport, with the fuel costs representing approx. 0.04% of the end retail product.

Skysails are great, as are all forms of energy conservation. But as far as peak oil is concerned, shipping is the least of our problems.

[IslandCrow]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Omnitir', 'S')hipping is actually the most efficient form of transport, with the fuel costs representing approx. 0.04% of the end retail product. ..... But as far as peak oil is concerned, shipping is the least of our problems.

[Bas]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Omnitir', 'I')t's great to see this taking off (excuse the pun )
It's been a long time in development, and will probably be a while before we see it go mainstream.

This has previously been discussed here a few years ago:
http://www.peakoil.com/fortopic19638.html
http://www.peakoil.com/fortopic5401.html

The only thing with this, is that the fuel savings really don't count for much in the big scheme of things. But I'm not saying this because I think the saving don't matter - they do. I'm saying this because shipping already uses only a minuscule fraction of our oil consumption.

Shipping is actually the most efficient form of transport, with the fuel costs representing approx. 0.04% of the end retail product.

Skysails are great, as are all forms of energy conservation. But as far as peak oil is concerned, shipping is the least of our problems.

[Omnitir]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Bas', '
')Thanks for those links Omni, I wasn't aware it had been posted before (but I could've known). And yeah, shipping has always been the most energy efficient method of transport and probably always will be. I know that this "invention" is a mere drop in the bucket, but it's interesting to see how even in these small niches big gains can be made by more or less simple improvisations.

[bshirt]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('IslandCrow', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Omnitir', 'S')hipping is actually the most efficient form of transport, with the fuel costs representing approx. 0.04% of the end retail product. ..... But as far as peak oil is concerned, shipping is the least of our problems.

[whereagles]

Hum.. that's a pretty neat idea.

When will there be a kite-propelled skateboard to go commute to work?

[malcomatic_51]

I've come across this idea before. It does not look like much of a winner to me, not relative to Flettner columns or efficient fore-and-aft rigs. They use it on a small ship in very calm weather. It requires fairly extensive strengthening of the structure around the mounting column as well as deck clutter and some fairly vulnerable gear up forward where it will get pasted in a storm.

Still, someone must believe in it. I'd love to see them launch it on a squally October day....

[catbox]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('whereagles', 'H')um.. that's a pretty neat idea.

When will there be a kite-propelled skateboard to go commute to work?

[whereagles]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('catbox', '
')http://www.kiteskating.com/

I have been known to hold up a pizza box in windstorm and skate down the street that way...fun stuff.

[Judgie]

Another tech to look at as well is the dynarig, a german concept developed in the 60's, for powering their cargo vessels in preparation for the looming energy crisis of the 70's and 80's. They never had to put it in to practice. However, when Tom Perkins read about it, he did.

http://www.symaltesefalcon.com/index2.html

An explanation of the rig:
http://www.runningtideyachts.com/dynarig/

[return1880s]

We will be going back to those ships that use wind power.

[xrotaryguy]

Neat idea. I think the kite can be retracted during a storm. That should help with durability issues. Another nice thing about this design is that it could be retrofitted to existing ships. It seems like a fine way to keep sails out of the way of cargo containers too. I wonder if it is legal in sail boat racing?

[Judgie]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('xrotaryguy', 'N')eat idea. I think the kite can be retracted during a storm. That should help with durability issues. Another nice thing about this design is that it could be retrofitted to existing ships. It seems like a fine way to keep sails out of the way of cargo containers too. I wonder if it is legal in sail boat racing?