Wind Assist Demonstration Project for Ferry Districts on San Francisco Bay
Wind+Wing Technologies partnered with Photon Composites, pioneers in innovative computerized wing technology, to develop a demonstration vessel for ferry routes on the San Francisco Bay. The vessel, a 42-foot trimaran equipped with a computerized wing, was specifically designed to harness wind power to significantly reduce fuel consumption and emissions. In January 2014, the demonstration vessel began test sailing five days a week, for three months, on the following ferry routes from the San Francisco Ferry Building to:
- Sausalito
- Richmond
- Treasure Island
- Alameda
- Redwood City
The demonstration period tracked vessel reliability, speed, and fuel savings during a varied wind season, all while replicating a realistic ferry schedule. Data compiled during the demonstration was forwarded for analysis to Dr. Timothy Lipman, Co-Director for the Transportation Sustainability Research Center at the University of California, Berkeley. The data was presented in a final report, and documents potential improvements in air quality and fuel cost savings from employing this technology on San Francisco Bay ferry vessels. This demonstration project was made possible by a grant from the Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) through the California Air Resources Board(CARB), with additional funding and grant administration by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), as well as Adventure Cat Sailing Charters and Photon Composites