Scholarly record

ONBOARD INTEGRATION AND FIELD EVALUATION OF A WIND TURBINE FOR ENERGY GENERATION ON A MARITIME DANUBE VESSEL

Florin Barbu

Abstract

This study presents the onboard integration and experimental evaluation of a small-scale wind turbine installed on a maritime vessel operating in the Danube sector. The research aims to assess the feasibility of harnessing wind energy under real navigation conditions and to quantify the electrical power generation potential across different operational states, including cruising, maneuvering, and standby. The system was designed with consideration for structural constraints, aerodynamic interference from the vessel’s superstructure, and safe integration into the onboard electrical network. A monitoring framework was implemented to record key parameters such as wind speed and direction, turbine output, and vessel operating conditions. Preliminary observations indicate that energy production is strongly influenced by apparent wind variations, vessel heading, and local turbulence effects. The results provide insight into the practical challenges associated with small-scale wind energy deployment on ships, including variability in power output and installation constraints. The study contributes to the broader objective of maritime decarbonization by evaluating the potential of auxiliary renewable energy systems to reduce onboard fuel consumption and emissions. The findings support the development of data-driven strategies for integrating wind energy technologies into future low-emission vessel designs.

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