Wärtsilä launches world’s first large-scale power plant with 100% hydrogen engine

Technology group Wärtsilä today launched the world’s first large-scale power plant with a 100% hydrogen engine, to enable the net-zero energy systems of tomorrow.

IEA World Energy Outlook 2023¹ shows that hydrogen is an essential component of our future electricity systems. According to the report, to reach net zero emissions by 2050, 17 Mt of hydrogen must be consumed for electricity generation in 2030, rising to 51 Mt by 2050.

Global renewable energy deployment expected to double by end of this decade²creating the right conditions for the use of excess clean electricity for the production of carbon-neutral hydrogen-based fuels and for the establishment of 100% renewable energy systems.

However, the development of renewable energy alone is not enough to achieve global net zero emissions targets. Flexible power generation solutions, such as engine-driven power plants, are needed to balance fluctuating renewable energy sources. It is essential that these solutions are future-proof and ready to run on sustainable fuels in order to completely decarbonize the energy sector.

Wärtsilä addresses this need with its new hydrogen-compatible engine power plant, which can be converted to run 100% on hydrogen. The new engine power plant is a significant step forward from existing technology, which can run on natural gas and hydrogen blends at 25 percent by volume.

Anders Lindberg, President of Wärtsilä Energy, said: “We will not meet global climate targets or fully decarbonize our electricity systems without flexible, carbon-free electricity generation, which can quickly ramp up and down to support energy. intermittent wind and solar.

“We need to be realistic that natural gas will play a role in our electricity systems in the years to come. Our flexible fuel engines today can use natural gas to provide flexibility and balancing, allowing renewable energy to thrive. They can then be converted to run on hydrogen when it becomes readily available: thereby sustaining the journey to net zero emissions.

“This is a major milestone for us as a company, and for the energy transition in general, as our hydrogen-ready engines will enable the 100% renewable electricity systems of tomorrow. »

The Wärtsilä 31 engine platform, on which the hydrogen power plant is based, is the most efficient in the world. It synchronizes with the grid within 30 seconds of the start command, ensures energy security through fuel flexibility and offers unrivaled load following capabilities and high part-load efficiency. It has completed over one million hours of operation, with an installed capacity of over 1,000 MW worldwide.

Wärtsilä’s 100% hydrogen engine power plant concept, based on the Wärtsilä 31 engine platform, has been certified by TÜV SÜD, demonstrating its commitment to quality and safety. The H2-Readiness certification from TÜV SÜD consists of three stages with three corresponding certificates. Wärtsilä has now taken the first step with a design certificate for the design of its motor power plant. The 100% hydrogen engine is expected to be available for orders in 2025 and available for delivery from 2026.

¹https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/86ede39e-4436-42d7-ba2a-edf61467e070/WorldEnergyOutlook2023.pdf

²https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/86ede39e-4436-42d7-ba2a-edf61467e070/WorldEnergyOutlook2023.pdf

Read more: The world’s first large-scale hydrogen engine power plant is here

Media contact for more information on this release:

Katri Pehkonen
Communications Manager
Wärtsilä Energy
Mobile: +358 50 591 6180
[email protected]

Legend: Wärtsilä today launched the world’s first large-scale power plant with a 100% hydrogen engine, to enable the net zero energy systems of tomorrow. ©️Wärtsilä

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Wärtsilä Energy in brief
Wärtsilä Energy is at the forefront of the transition to a 100% renewable energy future. We help our customers and the power sector accelerate their decarbonization journey with our cutting-edge technologies and power systems expertise. Our solutions include flexible engine power plants, energy storage and optimization technologies, and services for the entire lifecycle of our facilities. Our engines are scalable and can run on sustainable fuels. Our history includes 79 GW of power plant capacity, including 18 GW under service contract, and more than 125 energy storage systems, in 180 countries around the world.
www.wartsila.com/energy

Wärtsilä in brief
Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. We focus on innovation in sustainable technologies and services to help our customers continually improve their environmental and economic performance. Our dedicated and passionate team of 17,800 professionals across more than 280 locations in 79 countries is shaping the decarbonization transformation of our industries around the world. In 2023, Wärtsilä’s net sales amounted to €6.0 billion. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.
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