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I actually posted another comment, previously in this story's discussion, mentioning high-altitude kite propelled container ships. You'd probably still need to
by rosser 10y ago
I actually posted another comment, previously in this story's discussion, mentioning high-altitude kite propelled container ships. You'd probably still need to burn something (or somehow otherwise) turn screws for maneuvering and propulsion in coastal waters, but that's a small fraction of the fuel burned each crossing.
- nradov 10y agoNo even with kite propulsion cargo ships will still need to run the main engine constantly. Wind just isn't strong enough to push a huge ship through the water a reasonable speed using a relatively small kite. See the other link in the sibling post; total fuel consumption with a kite is only 5% lower. http://www.skysails.info/english/skysails-marine/skysails-propulsion-for-cargo-ships/advantages/ http://www.skysails.info/english/skysails-marine/skysails-pr...
- imaginenore 10y agoWith one specific kite. Nothing stops you from adding multiple kites, and larger ones too.
- nradov 10y agoThere are practical limits to kite size in order to keep them controllable. And where would you put multiple kites? Deck space is at a premium and they won't sacrifice cargo capacity.
- rosser 10y agoCurrently, yes. Currently, aeons-decomposed dinosaurs are still plentiful enough that we're profligately burning them, at our own peril, too. Both of those things will change.