Using the power of the wind, rotor sails increase efficiency and cut costs and carbon in the shipping industry.

The Norsepower Rotor Sail Solution is a modernised version of the Flettner rotor – a spinning cylinder that uses the Magnus effect to harness wind power to propel a ship. When wind conditions are favourable, Norsepower Rotor Sails allow the main engines to be throttled back, saving fuel and reducing emissions while providing the power needed to maintain speed and voyage time. Rotor sails can be used with new vessels or retrofitted on existing ships. Based on independently verified results, the technology provides potential fuel savings of up to 20%, cutting ship operators’ costs substantially.

This solution was featured in Sustainable Shipping market of the 2018 Global Opportunity Report, and was selected based on the criteria of that report. 

Why you should care

Much of the textile industry produces waste at the manufacturing stage, primarily from off-cuts of fabric that can’t be used elsewhere. Estimates of total waste from off-cuts range from 40 to 120 billion square meters of fabric. Seljak is one small example of a company actively thinking about how to unlock this potential value source. So far the company estimates to have diverted 2,000kg of textile waste from ending up in landfill.

How the Global Goals are addressed

Affordable and Clean Energy

Hybrid solutions, such as The Norsepower Rotor Sail Solution, are a first step towards scaling renewables across industry, a key factor for achieving Goal 7.

Climate Action

The rotor sail solution results in significant CO₂ emission savings – up to 1,200 tonnes per vessel annually – thus lowering this sector's carbon footprint.