Wartsila working on 100% hydrogen-powered engines

Finnish technology group Wartsila Corp (HEL:WRT1V) wants its gas engines to be able to run on 100% hydrogen fuel as part of a plan to future-proof its technology.

The company said on Tuesday it is developing the combustion process to allow the burning of 100% hydrogen as the world is moving towards decarbonisation of energy. It has already tested its engines with blends containing up to 60% hydrogen and 40% natural gas.

Wartsila is also studying the future use of other potential green fuels, while its engines can already operate on 100% synthetic carbon-neutral methane and methanol.

“The use of renewable fuels in flexible power plants dramatically reduces the required size of battery storage, improves power system efficiency, lowers generating costs, and provides high security of supply even during rare and unusual weather patterns,” the firm said.

Recently, Wartsila received a EUR-1-million Business Finland grant to fund research into Power-to-X technologies to promote a carbon-neutral economy.

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