Exploring Marine Drones’ Carbon Footprint with Saildrone

Saildrone, a leading developer of uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs), has recently published its inaugural Carbon Impact Report, showcasing the remarkable environmental benefits of utilizing USVs for various ocean-related missions.

The report highlights that in 2022, Saildrone managed to avoid a staggering 99.9% of emissions typically associated with ocean data collection activities, including research, seafloor mapping, and maritime defense operations. Furthermore, the company surpassed expectations by offsetting 143% of its own total emissions, encompassing Scope 3 downstream sources of emissions.

With the maritime industry responsible for approximately 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), the demand for consistent ocean observations has never been more critical. Accurate assessments of the global carbon budget, sustainable management of fisheries, and the facilitation of renewable energy generation all rely on reliable ocean data.

At the core of Saildrone's operations are wind and solar-powered USVs, which have been deployed for remote monitoring of the world's oceans. These innovative vehicles have already traversed over 1.1 million nautical miles and spent more than 36,000 days at sea, amassing a wealth of valuable data.

The extensive dataset collected by Saildrone's USVs has played a pivotal role in enhancing weather forecasting capabilities and deepening our understanding of the complex dynamics within Earth's oceans. This data-driven approach not only benefits scientific research but also contributes to the sustainable development of the Blue Economy.

Richard Jenkins, the founder and CEO of Saildrone, emphasized the importance of reducing the carbon footprint associated with maritime data collection. He stated, "Ocean access and exploration are vital for the health of our planet and the growth of the Blue Economy. Historically, data collection in these domains has been heavily reliant on fossil fuels. It is gratifying to see our commitment to environmental sustainability reflected in our operational achievements."