Thread

1. calmbonsai · 1789624197 · focus · HN ↗

   No, they’re really not.

   Turns out, sail-power scales sublinearly and, shocker, the wind isn’t a reliable source of power for the logistics demands of today’s supply chains.

   We’re never going back to wind, but we will be de-carbonizing shipping either with ammonia combustion, fuel cells, or both.

   1. rob74 · 1789631470 · focus · HN ↗

      If you had bothered to at least skim TFA, this is addressed in the third paragraph:

      > The idea is not to turn modern cargo ships back into sailing vessels. Instead, these systems are designed to work alongside conventional engines, using the wind to reduce fuel consumption whenever conditions allow.

      1. dghlsakjg · 1789676041 · focus · HN ↗

         The issue is that when conditions do not allow they actively increase fuel consumption through windage, maneuverability loss, air draft increases and extra weight. They also increase costs through increased maintenance needs and crew training and limits on which docks can load and unload them.

         We have had hybrid sail/combustion engine cargo ships for 200+ years, today they are reduced to novelty or historical status. We have been experimenting with goofy hi tech rotary sails for more than a century, and no one has really done more than make a few demonstrators for publicity.

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