Hybrid Wind and Solar Power System Sea Trials on Containership Helgafell - News and Statistics
Sep 5, 2026
Hybrid Wind and Solar System Sea Trials on Containership
Sea trials are now underway for a combined wind-and-solar energy system aimed at cutting auxiliary engine emissions aboard a converted container vessel. The test setup features a novel horizontally oriented wind turbine, developed to overcome the difficulties of adding wind-assisted propulsion to ships where cargo takes priority for deck space.
The equipment was fitted in late August in Aarhus, Denmark, on the Samskip-operated containership Helgafell. Constructed in 2005, this vessel serves as a dependable asset for the company, running regular routes to Iceland regardless of weather. The ship has a deadweight tonnage of 11,143, measures 137.5 meters (451 feet) long, and can carry up to 909 TEU.
This retrofit unites two renewable power sources in a modular design intended for easy installation on existing vessels. SideWind’s horizontal turbines are placed inside converted freight containers, while Solbian’s photovoltaic panels are mounted on the container tops. This configuration seeks to exploit open deck areas while keeping structural changes to a minimum. For SideWind, these sea trials signify a shift from land-based development and testing to real-world maritime validation.
SideWind CEO Oskar Svavarsson noted that the trials would yield crucial operational data on performance and control, supporting progress toward a commercially scalable retrofit solution. The Solbian solar modules were specially engineered to match the dimensions of the SideWind container roofs and withstand harsh ocean conditions. Throughout the testing period, the solar array will function in tandem with the turbines, forming a hybrid system that draws on both wind and sunlight.
Testing started right after installation, as the ship traversed the North Atlantic and reached Iceland on August 24. The evaluation will span four planned voyages over the coming three months. Guomundur Oskarsson, Samskip’s Director of Logistics, expressed expectations that the trials would offer insights into how modular renewable technologies can support greener daily shipping operations without compromising the safety, reliability, or service quality that customers and crews rely on.
This effort represents the second of two demonstrations under the WHISPER initiative, which stands for Wind Energy Harvesting for Ship Propulsion Assistance and Power. That project began in January 2023 and is scheduled to conclude on December 31, 2026. It involves 13 partners from six European nations and has secured backing from the European Union’s Horizon Europe program. The first demonstration applied the same hybrid wind-solar concept to the dry bulk carrier Maria Tipoc, where solar panels sit on hatch covers alongside OceanWings’ rigid, tilting sails.
WHISPER was conceived to examine the hurdles and prospects of equipping older ships with such hybrid systems. Its objectives include achieving roughly 30 percent fuel savings on a converted bulk carrier and up to 15 percent on a converted containership.
1. INTRODUCTION
Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business
- REPORT DESCRIPTION
- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND THE AI PLATFORM
- DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
- GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS
2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A Quick Overview of Market Performance
- KEY FINDINGS
- MARKET TRENDS This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional EditionPRO
3. MARKET OVERVIEW
Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects
- MARKET SIZE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
- CONSUMPTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
- MARKET FORECAST TO 2035
4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCTS FOR DIVERSIFICATION
Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business
- TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
- BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
- MOST CONSUMED PRODUCTS
- MOST TRADED PRODUCTS
- MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCTS FOR EXPORT
5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES
Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain
- TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
- TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
- TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
- LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES
6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS
Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Export
- TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
- TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
- UNSATURATED MARKETS
- TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
- MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS
7. PRODUCTION
The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry
- PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
- PRODUCTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
8. IMPORTS
The Largest Import Supplying Countries
- IMPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
- IMPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
- IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
9. EXPORTS
The Largest Destinations for Exports
- EXPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
- EXPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
- EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS
The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles
-
11. COUNTRY PROFILES
The Largest Markets And Their Profiles
This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO11.1
United States
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.2
China
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.3
Japan
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.4
Germany
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.5
United Kingdom
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.6
France
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.7
Brazil
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.8
Italy
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.9
Russian Federation
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.10
India
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.11
Canada
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.12
Australia
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.13
Republic of Korea
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.14
Spain
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.15
Mexico
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.16
Indonesia
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.17
Netherlands
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.18
Turkey
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.19
Saudi Arabia
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.20
Switzerland
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.21
Sweden
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.22
Nigeria
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.23
Poland
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.24
Belgium
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.25
Argentina
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.26
Norway
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.27
Austria
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.28
Thailand
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.29
United Arab Emirates
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.30
Colombia
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.31
Denmark
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.32
South Africa
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.33
Malaysia
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.34
Israel
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.35
Singapore
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.36
Egypt
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.37
Philippines
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.38
Finland
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.39
Chile
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.40
Ireland
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.41
Pakistan
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.42
Greece
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.43
Portugal
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.44
Kazakhstan
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.45
Algeria
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.46
Czech Republic
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.47
Qatar
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.48
Peru
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.49
Romania
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
11.50
Vietnam
- Market Size
- Production
- Imports
- Exports
LIST OF TABLES
- Key Findings In 2025
- Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Per Capita Consumption, by Country, 2022–2025
- Production, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Imports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Import Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Exports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Export Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
LIST OF FIGURES
- Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Consumption, by Country, 2025
- Market Volume Forecast to 2035
- Market Value Forecast to 2035
- Market Size and Growth, By Product
- Average Per Capita Consumption, By Product
- Exports and Growth, By Product
- Export Prices and Growth, By Product
- Production Volume and Growth
- Exports and Growth
- Export Prices and Growth
- Market Size and Growth
- Per Capita Consumption
- Imports and Growth
- Import Prices
- Production, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Production, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Production, by Country, 2025
- Production, In Physical Terms, by Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Imports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Imports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2025
- Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Imports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Import Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Exports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Exports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2025
- Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Exports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
- Export Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)