Everything You Want to Know About Maritime Wind.

Question 1

How does the venturi effect apply to vessels?

Accepted Answer

A vessel moving through water creates its own localised wind field. At 3 m/s ambient wind, effective airflow over the deck reaches 9 m/s or more. Forward vessel speed adds a further 4 to 7 m/s apparent wind. The deck is a high-performance generation environment on every passage.

Question 2

Do turbines generate when the vessel is at anchor or in port?

Accepted Answer

H Nordic turbines cut in at 2 m/s -- a very light breeze. At anchor or in port, generation depends on local wind conditions. Underway, forward motion and the venturi effect mean apparent wind exceeds cut-in for virtually all sailing time.

Question 3

Why are the recorded fuel savings on the Stena Jutlandica so much larger than the electrical output of the turbines would suggest?

Accepted Answer

Two 4 kW turbines running at 30% capacity factor produce roughly 4.6 tonnes of diesel saving. Stena recorded 80 to 90 tonnes. The gap is explained by aerodynamic drag reduction -- turbines at the superstructure edges disrupt vortex shedding and reduce propulsion resistance.

Question 4

What is the cut-in wind speed and why does it matter at sea?

Accepted Answer

H Nordic maritime turbines cut in at 2 m/s. At sea, a vessel's own forward motion creates persistent apparent wind that exceeds this threshold for virtually all of a passage. The DC-direct architecture captures generation from 2 m/s without grid synchronisation constraints.

Question 5

What vessel types are compatible with H Nordic VAWTs?

Accepted Answer

H Nordic VAWTs are compatible with car carriers, RoRo vessels, bulk carriers, container vessels, ferries, offshore support vessels, and tankers. Tanker placement is subject to ATEX zone assessment. Final positioning is confirmed following a vessel survey.

Question 6

Does installation require the vessel to go into drydock?

Accepted Answer

No. H Nordic turbines are compact and light -- approximately 800 kg per unit -- and mount to existing deck structures using standard bolted connections. Installation can typically be conducted in port during a scheduled port call without extended withdrawal from service.

Question 7

How are turbines secured to the deck?

Accepted Answer

Turbines mount via bolted flanged mounting plates to existing deck structural members. The ~800 kg unit weight imposes modest loads within the capacity of most commercial vessel decks. A structural assessment is conducted as part of the delivery scope and confirms compatibility before installation.

Question 8

Can turbines be installed on vessels with cargo on deck?

Accepted Answer

Yes, subject to deck layout assessment. H Nordic turbines have a small footprint and can be positioned at superstructure edges and secondary deck levels clear of cargo stowage, lashing points, and access routes. Placement is optimised during the deck layout assessment.

Question 9

How is the fuel saving calculated?

Accepted Answer

Three inputs: 6,500 operating hours per year, 0.295 kg/kWh diesel consumption rate, and USD 700--1,000 per tonne fuel cost. A 10--30% wake reduction is applied to multi-turbine configurations. Aerodynamic drag reduction -- which can exceed direct generation saving -- is excluded from the table.

Question 10

Are savings affected by trade route wind patterns?

Accepted Answer

Less than expected. A significant portion of apparent wind at the turbine comes from the vessel's own forward motion -- not the ambient wind. Routes with higher ambient wind produce higher savings, but low-wind routes still generate meaningfully from forward motion and venturi effect.

Question 11

Is the under-three-year payback figure realistic?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it is conservative. It excludes aerodynamic drag reduction, uses the lower end of the fuel cost range, and applies a wake reduction to output. Operators with higher fuel costs, higher operating hours, or access to EU/Nordic grant support will see shorter payback periods.

Question 12

What funding is available for maritime wind installations?

Accepted Answer

Maritime decarbonisation is a priority category for the EU Innovation Fund, Horizon Europe clean maritime calls, and national programmes in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. Eligibility depends on vessel flag, operator domicile, and project scale. Applications must be submitted before equipment is ordered.

Question 13

What maintenance do the turbines require?

Accepted Answer

H Nordic VAWTs have no gearbox, no yaw mechanism, and no pitch control -- the systems that drive most HAWT maintenance. Principal activities are structural inspection of mounting connections, periodic bearing checks, and battery management system servicing.

Question 14

What happens to the turbines in heavy weather?

Accepted Answer

H Nordic maritime turbines are designed for open ocean conditions. The rotor geometry is self-limiting by design -- there is no cut-out wind speed. In storm conditions the turbines continue generating at rated output without mechanical intervention or software override.

Question 15

How does the system integrate with the vessel's existing electrical architecture?

Accepted Answer

Power routes from the DC generator through a DC/DC converter to integrated battery storage. No grid synchronisation required. Compatible with vessel DC bus architecture without main switchboard modification. For vessels with AC distribution, a DC/AC inverter stage is added.