COSCO goes solar

Beijing: Australian company Solar Sailor has signed a deal with the largest Chinese shipping line COSCO to fit some tankers with large solar-powered sails.
 
The sails are 30 meters long, covered with solar PV panels that will provide 5 percent of the ships' electricity and will harness enough wind to reduce fuel costs by 20 to 40 percent. The sails are controlled by a computer that angles them for maximum wind and solar efficiency and the company claims that the sails will pay for themselves within four years. [10/11/08]