The momentum for wind-assist propulsion is growing as the industry anticipates exponential growth in 2026.

The COVID pandemic slowed the uptake of wind assist propulsion, but Gavin Allwright, Secretary General of the International Windship Association, sees 2025 as a transition year, taking the industry from an experience building and information drive in 2024 to exponential growth in 2026.

“2024 was such a big year. It’s probably the last year where we are doing the big push in the market from an Association point of view – educating, getting information out into the market, going to as many conferences as humanly possible. What we’re seeing in 2025 is a transition year, because 2026 is the year we’ve identified as the real inflection year.”

There will be 100 installations by the end of 2025, and the building blocks are in place for further growth. OEMs are shaving 10-20% off manufacturing costs each year, and several companies are moving to large-scale production. Chinese yards have already installed at least 30 systems, and Bar Technologies, Anemoi and Norsepower have production facilities there, along with local companies CSSC and Dealfeng New Energy Technology.