George Thompson: Harnessing Wind Power for a Sustainable Shipping Future
George Thompson on the innovative advancements at GT Wings to cut carbon emissions and promote environmental stewardship in the maritime industry
This week, theTTI Interview Series covers our memberGeorge Thompson. George Thompson is a naval architect with a rich background in maritime technology. He started his career in the British America’s Cup campaign with Land Rover BAR, focusing on simulation and performance for wind-propelled race yachts. George founded and leads GT Wings, where he applies his expertise in wind propulsion to develop successful systems for the industry. Outside of work, George is a keen sailor and spends any time he has away from work in and around the sea.
George, tell us a little about your work and how it intersects with the impact space.
GT Wings is developing cutting-edge wind propulsion systems for commercial shipping - these reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions of vessels anywhere up to 30%.
What is your own definition of impact?
Any action that helps align humanity with a more natural and stable ecosystem.
What do you believe is one of the most
important issues that need to be solved over the next 10 years?
One of the most crucial issues we need to address over the next 10 years is our ever-increasing impact on the environment and natural biosphere around us, we need to find a way to work with rather than against these critical ecosystems.
What do you think are some of the biggest challenges in the impact space, standing in the way of providing solutions faster?
In shipping there needs to be a greater drive to change, a large portion of shippers are still reluctant to part from tradition and take risks to solve the world's biggest problems. Perception and regulation are changing this today but it needs to come more aggressively. Luckily there are a handful of forward-thinking shipowners and operators creating a sense of impact-oriented FOMO and steering the industry on the right course!
Tell us more about the long-term vision you have for your work and how you measure & quantify your impact.
The long-term vision of GT Wings is to provide solutions that help align industry with nature and reduce the impact we have on the planet. Measured in success by experiencing nature thrive.
What are some of the misconceptions you’ve noticed regarding what impact is all about?
Impact is not all about economic benefit. There of course should be economic incentives to draw organisations and people into improving social, environmental and cultural impacts but this should not be its sole purpose.
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