A Bay Area based company specializing in utilizing available renewable energy plans to build a ferry of the future specifically designed to utilize the plentiful Pacific Ocean winds of the San Francisco Bay. The idea combines a carbon composite sail, which act more like an aircraft wing, and the existing diesel powered ferry engine. The sail wouldn't eliminate the need for an engine, but it would decrease the need for an engine by about 40%.
The company Wind+Wing Technologies, based out of Napa, has developed research that proves the efficiency of such a design and are planning to pitch their idea to local ferry companies within the next few years. The number of commuters and tourists using Bay area ferries as a means of transportation to San Francisco, has been steadily increasing over the last 5 years and an environmentally friendly alternative to the normal diesel fuel driving the ferries through the bay is long over due.
