The Connemara based company EireComposites is developing new materials to making shipping a cleaner, greener sector.
The company is partnering with University of Galway on the newly-funded FASTSHIP project.
This aims to make the shipping industry greener, by using lightweight composite materials to reduce fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and costs.
Over the course of 24 months, the project will focus on manufacturing process optimisation for the volume production of composite components that can reduce drag on ships thereby cutting fuel usage.
ÉireComposites will lead development and manufacturing, while University of Galway takes charge of analysis and testing.
These two parties have a long, impressive history of collaboration, ensuring there is a strong partnership at the heart of this vital work.
Established in 1998, ÉireComposites is an innovative design, manufacturing, and testing company, involved in lightweight, high-performance, fibre-reinforced composite materials.
Based in Inverin, they have an international blue-chip customer base of over 70 companies in aerospace, renewable energy, marine, and automotive sectors.
As global trade booms, shipping continues to be the method of choice for goods transportation.
This industry accounts for approximately 3.1% of global CO2 emissions today, which is predicted to rise by anything from 50% to 250% by 2050 without mitigation.
The Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland (SEAI) and the Marine Institute are providing almost €600,000 of funding to the FASTSHIP project, under the SEAI National Energy Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D) Funding Programme 2022.
This programme invests in innovative energy RD&D projects which contribute to Ireland’s transition to a clean and secure energy future.
Veronica Cunningham of the Oranmore based Marine Institute said, “The Irish maritime sector, in line with the sector across Europe is seeking ways to decarbonise operations, reduce greenhouse gases emissions, and increase the use of low-carbon and renewable fuels to replace fossil fuels for shipping.”
“The FASTSHIP project will develop a solution that can be retrofitted to existing vessels or designed into new ships, with a significant reduction in fuel consumption, and consequently decreasing vessel carbon emissions and shipping costs.”
