Wednesday 6 May 2020

Wärtsilä to develop 100% hydrogen engines

Wärtsilä has announced it is developing new technology to allow its gas engines to burn 100% hydrogen fuel.

The project aims to further the use of renewable fuels so they can be used to top up battery storage when wind and solar generation is low.

The technology group says hydrogen can be produced locally using water and air as the raw materials and notes underground gas storage would be used to store the gas.

It claims the use of renewable fuels in flexible power plants dramatically reduces the required volume of battery storage, improves power system efficiency, lowers generating costs and provides high security of supply even during rare and unusual weather patterns.

Marco Wiren, President, Wärtsilä Energy Business, said: "The world is on a path towards 100% decarbonisation and Wärtsilä continues to support this trend with our research and development of future fuels, such as hydrogen.

"The market for hydrogen-fuelled power plants will emerge along with regulations restricting the burning of fossil fuels. We are well-positioned to serve the power industry in its transition to 100% renewable electricity generation."