£2m innovation grant to propel clean maritime research towards commercialisation

Bristol-based maritime engineering start-up WingTek, in collaboration with the National Composites Centre and the University of Bristol, has won a £2.2m innovation grant.

The funding from Innovate UK has been awarded under the Department for Transport’s clean maritime demonstration competition.

It is to develop further the WingTek Wingsail, a unique Wind Auxiliary Propulsion (WAP) system designed to be retrofitted easily to existing commercial vessels.

Wind Auxiliary Propulsion is a technology that complements existing ship propulsion systems, enabling significant reductions in fuel use and therefore harmful emissions from these ships.

Neil Richards, WingTek’s managing director, said: “WingTek’s innovative Wind Auxiliary Propulsion system has received a significant boost thanks to the help and support of Innovate UK leading to this grant.

“We are delighted to be working with a fantastic set of project partners at the University of Bristol and the National Composites Centre and we are now well supported to fast-track the development on the route to commercial production.”

The project will deliver two full-size operational prototypes, one on-shore for long-term testing and development and a second unit installed on a commercial UK vessel for sea-trials, with the project scheduled to complete by March 2025.