The European maritime industry has launched the AWESOME project to accelerate the commercial deployment of wind-assisted propulsion systems and support shipping’s transition toward lower emissions and fuel consumption.

Officially launched in Brussels on June 25, 2026, AWESOME—short for Advanced Wind Energy System Optimisation & Monitoring for Efficiency—is funded under the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme. Coordinated by Kongsberg Maritime, the initiative brings together 15 European partners representing technology developers, shipowners, research institutions, engineering companies, classification societies, and maritime innovation organizations.

Although wind-assisted propulsion has demonstrated considerable potential for reducing fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions, its wider adoption has been constrained by uncertainty regarding actual performance, investment costs, operational impacts, and regulatory compliance. AWESOME aims to address these barriers by developing validated performance data, standardized measurement methodologies, and practical decision-support tools for shipowners and regulators.

A central component of the project will be two full-scale vessel demonstrations. One of Odfjell’s chemical tankers will be used to investigate the integration of wind-assisted propulsion into an existing vessel, while NEOLine’s newbuild Neoliner Origin will demonstrate how wind propulsion technology can be optimized from the initial ship design stage.

The demonstrators will enable the project partners to verify performance models, assess long-term operational behavior, and develop advanced methods for measuring wind-generated thrust, fuel savings, and emission reductions under real operating conditions. The project will also explore the integration of wind propulsion with onboard automation, control, and energy-management systems.

By improving the measurement, documentation, and verification of wind-assisted propulsion performance, AWESOME is expected to reduce investment risks and support the technology’s wider application across the shipping industry. Its findings will also help vessels comply with emerging regulatory frameworks, including FuelEU Maritime and future greenhouse gas requirements of the International Maritime Organization.

The project represents an important step in moving wind-assisted ship propulsion from individual demonstration projects toward a measurable, verifiable, and scalable solution for maritime decarbonization.

Author:
Fabian Amdal Åsland

Source:
Maritime CleanTech / Odfjell

Original Link:
https://www.odfjell.com/about/our-stories/odfjell-joins-new-eu-project-to-cut-emissions-and-fuel-costs-through-wind-propulsion-in-shipping/