Wärtsilä launches the world’s first large-scale power plant with 100% hydrogen-ready engines

Technology group Wärtsilä today launched the world’s first large-scale power plant with 100% hydrogen-ready engines, designed to enable future net-zero power systems.

IEA World Energy Forecast for 2023¹ shows that hydrogen is an essential component of our future electricity systems. According to the report, the path to net zero emissions by 2050 requires the use of 17 Mt of hydrogen in energy production in 2030, which will reach 51 Mt by 2050.

By the end of this decade, the use of renewable energy sources worldwide is expected to double²creating the right conditions to use excess clean electricity to produce hydrogen-based and carbon-neutral fuels and to enable 100% renewable power systems.

However, scaling up renewables alone will not be enough to achieve global net zero goals. Flexible power generation solutions such as motor power plants are needed to balance fluctuations in renewable energy sources. It is extremely important that these solutions are future-proof and ready to run on sustainable fuels, which will enable full decarbonization of the energy sector.

Wärtsilä is meeting this need with its new hydrogen power plant that can be converted to 100% hydrogen operation. The new power unit is a significant step forward over existing technology, which can be powered by natural gas and hydrogen mixtures with a concentration of 25% by volume.

Anders Lindberg, CEO of Wärtsilä Energy, said: “We won’t meet global climate goals or fully decarbonize our power systems without flexible, zero-emission power generation that can ramp up and down quickly to support intermittent wind and solar power.

“We must be realistic and assume that natural gas will play a role in our electricity systems for many years to come. Our flexible fuel engines can now use natural gas to provide flexibility and balance, enabling the development of renewable energy. This can then be converted to hydrogen when it becomes readily available, future-proofing the journey to net zero emissions.

“This is an important milestone for us as a company, and for the energy transition more broadly, as our hydrogen-ready engines will enable the 100% renewable power 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 a start command, ensures energy security through fuel flexibility and offers unrivaled load following capabilities and high part load efficiency. It has worked over 1 million hours and has installed over 1,000 MW of power worldwide.

Wärtsilä’s 100% hydrogen-ready power plant concept, based on the Wärtsilä 31 engine platform, has been certified by TÜV SÜD, demonstrating its commitment to quality and safety. The TÜV SÜD H2-Readiness certification consists of three stages and three relevant certificates. Wärtsilä has already achieved the first stage by obtaining a Concept Certificate for the conceptual design of its powerplant. Orders for the 100% hydrogen engine are expected to be available in 2025, with deliveries possible 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 power plant with hydrogen engines has been launched

For more information on this release, please contact the media:

Katri Pehkonen
communications manager
Wärtsilä energy
Mob: +358 50 591 6180
[email protected]

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Wärtsilä Energy at a glance
Wärtsilä Energy is leading the transition to a 100% renewable future. We help our customers and the energy sector accelerate their decarbonization journey with our market-leading technologies and power systems expertise. Our solutions include flexible motor power plants, energy storage and optimization technology, and services throughout the entire life cycle of our installations. Our engines are future-proof and can be powered by fuels from sustainable sources. Our experience includes 79 GW of power plant capacity, of which 18 GW is covered by service contracts, and over 125 energy storage systems in 180 countries around the world.
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Wärtsilä in short
Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. We emphasize 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 in over 280 locations in 79 countries are shaping the decarbonization transformation of our industries around the world. In 2023, Wärtsilä’s net sales amounted to EUR 6.0 billion. Wärtsilä is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki stock exchange.
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