New EU Project to Cut Emissions and Fuel Costs Through Wind Propulsion in Shipping

25 June 2026

AWESOME is a Horizon Europe project that delivers validated tools, standardized methodologies, and real-world performance data to reduce uncertainty around wind-assisted propulsion systems. (Image credit: Kongsberg Maritime)

AWESOME—Advanced Wind Energy System Optimization & Monitoring for Efficiency—is a Horizon Europe project that delivers validated tools, standardized methodologies, and real-world performance data to reduce uncertainty around wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS). This enables shipowners and regulators to make informed decisions, lowering investment risk and accelerating the adoption of cost-effective emission reduction solutions in shipping.

Led by Kongsberg Maritime and supported by 14 European partners, the Horizon Europe-funded project brings together industry, clusters, and research institutions to support the transition to low- and zero-emission shipping. AWESOME tackles technical, operational, and regulatory barriers that still limit wider deployment of wind propulsion.

“Wind-assisted propulsion is one of the most attractive pathways to compliant, cost-effective shipping. We believe AWESOME represents a major step forward in scaling this technology,” said Kjerstin Kleyne Braaten, SVP Emerging Solutions at Kongsberg Maritime.

Through strong collaboration with industry, research, and academic partners, Awesome aims to make wind propulsion a viable and scalable solution for reducing emissions in shipping through real-world validation and stronger integration with onboard systems. By combining transparent performance verification with holistic control and automation, the project will enable fleets to meet emerging frameworks such as FuelEU Maritime and future IMO standards. This allows shipowners to postpone the adoption of costly low-carbon fuels.

Reducing Risk and Scaling Solutions

Shipping must decarbonize quickly to meet climate targets, yet adoption of WAPS has been slowed by uncertainty over performance, cost, and operational impact. AWESOME will tackle these challenges by delivering validated performance data and decision-support tools that strengthen confidence in investment decisions.

Full‑Scale Demonstrations at Sea

A central element of the project is the use of two full-scale demonstrators—one retrofit and one newbuild. The retrofit case, one of Odfjell’s chemical tankers, will show how WAPS can be integrated into existing vessels, while the newbuild, Neoliner Origin (Neoline), will demonstrate how the technology can be optimized from the design stage.

Together, these vessels will allow the consortium to validate performance models, test advanced methods for measuring thrust and energy savings, and assess long-term operational behavior under real operating conditions. These demonstrators will provide robust real-world data across vessel types and operating conditions, helping the industry reduce risk and accelerate deployment at scale.

“Wind-assisted propulsion is already delivering real results for Odfjell. Through projects like AWESOME, we are building on our long-term efforts to reduce emissions by turning operational experience into knowledge that can be scaled across the industry. We see considerable potential in wind, and initiatives like this are key to unlocking it by improving insight and reducing uncertainty,” said Jan Opedal, Manager Project at Odfjell.

Supporting Industry Uptake and Regulation

“Europe is currently a global leader in wind-assisted propulsion technologies. The AWESOME project is another important step to increase European leadership by pooling public and private resources, ensuring large-scale deployment of wind-assisted propulsion. This will not only result in lowering emissions, but in being able to sail as economically as viable with sustainable alternative fuels as well,” said Jaap Gebraad, Secretary General, Waterborne Technology Platform.

AWESOME will also support wider industry uptake by improving how WAPS performance is measured, documented, and recognized. In parallel, the project will generate knowledge relevant to crews, operators, and future regulatory development.

About the Project

AWESOME brings together 15 leading European partners spanning the full maritime value chain. This broad partnership supports an end-to-end approach, from design and simulation to onboard control, crew training, performance verification, and market uptake.