Wärtsilä launches 100% hydrogen-ready engine power plant

Finnish technology group Wärtsilä has launched a new engine power plant which can be converted to run on 100% hydrogen.

The power plant concept is based on the Wärtsilä 31 engine platform, which according to Wärtsilä, synchronises with the grid within 30 seconds from start command, ensures energy security through fuel flexibility and offers “unparalleled” load following capabilities and high part load efficiency.

Wärtsilä noted that its power plant concept is TÜV SÜD-certified, explaining that TÜV SÜD’s hydrogen-readiness certification consists of three stages with three corresponding certificates. Wärtsilä has achieved the first stage with a concept certificate for the conceptual design of the engine power plant.

The 100% hydrogen-ready engine is expected to be available for orders in 2025, and available for delivery from 2026.

Anders Lindberg, President of Wärtsilä Energy, said: “We will not meet global climate goals or fully decarbonise our power systems without flexible, zero-carbon power generation, which can quickly ramp up and down to support intermittent wind and solar.”

“We must be realistic that natural gas will play a part in our power systems for years to come. Our fuel flexible engines can use natural gas today to provide flexibility and balancing, enabling renewable power to thrive. They can then be converted to run on hydrogen when it becomes readily available: future-proofing the journey to net zero.”

“This is a major milestone for us as a company, and the energy transition more generally, as our hydrogen-ready engines will enable the 100% renewable power systems of tomorrow.”

Wärtsilä claimed that the new engine power plant is a “significant step” beyond existing technology, which can run on natural gas and 25 vol% hydrogen blends.