Lifecycle Assessment Embeds Carbon Metrics into Design and Delivers Industry-Leading Sustainability Data
(Portsmouth, 27 November 2025) – MarineShift360 has announced results from its recently concluded Impact Accelerator programme, including the outcomes of BAR Technologies’ lifecycle assessment of its pioneering WindWings® system. The study confirms that WindWings® achieves a carbon payback in under six months, setting a new benchmark for transparency and lifecycle performance in the maritime sector.
BAR Technologies completed the ten-month Impact Accelerator programme, which applies advanced lifecycle assessment (LCA) to drive sustainability in marine design and supply chains.
The analysis demonstrates that the WindWings® system, which is already reducing fuel consumption by an average of 1.5 tonnes per wing per day , hence cutting CO2 emissions by 4.7 tonnes daily on global shipping routes, offsets its embedded carbon emissions in operational use in less than half a year.
This breakthrough challenges long-held industry assumptions about the carbon cost of maritime innovation. By quantifying the true environmental return on investment, BAR Technologies is providing shipowners, regulators, and investors with verified data to support rapid decarbonisation.
“This is a landmark moment for commercial wind propulsion,” said John Cooper, CEO of BAR Technologies. “To demonstrate a sub-six-month carbon payback shows that WindWings® is not only delivering immediate environmental benefit but is a commercially ready solution that meets the industry’s urgent decarbonisation needs.”
“Seeing the payback come out in months has validated our design approach,” said Will Hopes, Simulation and Performance Engineer at BAR Technologies. “WindWings® are designed to decarbonise shipping as quickly as possible, and the study shows that this is what they are doing. LCA is a core part of every design review, not a separate consideration.”
“These results show what is possible when organisations commit to fully understanding their impact,” said Ollie Taylor, Director of Marine Futures. “LCA gives leaders the data to make better decisions and the confidence to scale those decisions across fleets, supply chains and product lines. As a first year, these results are incredibly encouraging and show what the Impact Accelerator was created to do, which is to catalyse change across our industry.”
The LCA, conducted in line with ISO 14044 standards, revealed that metalwork contributes the largest share of embedded emissions (44%), prompting BAR Technologies to pivot procurement towards recycled-content DH32 steel produced via Electric Arc Furnace processes. Additional carbon reductions are being achieved by increasing tooling utilisation and revising composite layups.
“This wasn’t just a validation exercise,” added Cooper. “It enhanced engineering reviews, procurement decisions, and customer conversations. We have embedded carbon literacy across every function, because sustainable performance must be measurable, verifiable, and repeatable.”
The findings have reinforced BAR Technologies’ design approach in all areas – not just WindWings® but all future innovations in the maritime world, applying carbon payback as a critical design metric alongside physical and financial performance. By leading with transparency, BAR Technologies is setting a new industry standard and calling on peers to follow suit.
Call to Action
As decarbonisation becomes a defining challenge for commercial shipping, BAR Technologies urges the maritime sector to shift from assumption to evidence. The LCA results from WindWings® are proof that credible, verifiable sustainability is achievable today. We encourage other innovators and marine stakeholders to take part in the next MarineShift360 Impact Accelerator and drive change with the same transparency and urgency.
About BAR Technologies
With an impressive heritage, having spun out of Great Britain’s former America’s Cup Team, BAR Technologies provides a wide range of design and engineering consultancy services across commercial ships, workboats, leisure boats, and engineered solutions. The company boasts a team of world-leading naval architects, optimisation specialists, fluid dynamists, and system engineers, all focused on delivering next-generation maritime technology.
About WindWings®
BAR Technologies’ patented three-element wing design is unique in the marketplace, delivering 2.5 times the lift of a single-element wing. Unlike other wind-assisted propulsion systems, WindWings® require no continuous power for suction fans or mechanical spinning. They automatically adjust camber and angle of attack for optimised efficiency at the most angles and wind speeds, offering a proven, scalable solution for emissions reduction.
Offering on average 1.5 tonnes of fuel saving per WindWing® per day, the 37.5m WindWings® has taken its place as the most powerful wind-assisted technology on the market.
About MarineShift360
MarineShift360 is dedicated to driving meaningful change, providing the tools and resources required to significantly and permanently reduce the marine industry’s environmental impact. The project is centred around an innovative Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) tool that empowers the global marine industry to make data-driven sustainability decisions. Developed in partnership with 11th Hour Racing and Marine Futures, the tool provides comprehensive assessments across multiple environmental impact categories, helping organisations reduce their ecological footprint and transition to a circular economy. Learn more at marineshift360.org.
