Designed to burn diesel, dual-fuel, or gasoline for marine vessels, the Wartsila 31 marine engine is being converted for clean electricity production.
According to the Guinness World Records, the Wartsila 31 engine from Finnish company Wartsila is the most efficient 4-stroke marine engine of its kind ever manufactured. It also boasts the highest power output per cylinder among engines with the same cylinder diameter. It can utilize 8 to 16 cylinders, producing an output of 4.6 to 10.4 MW at a speed of 720 to 750 revolutions per minute.
Hydrogen-powered Wartsila 31SG-H1 engine. (Photo: Wartsila).
Wartsila is renowned for producing the world’s largest internal combustion engines, notably the RTA96-C engine, which stands 27 meters tall, is 13 meters long, and has a power output of 110,000 horsepower. The Wartsila 31 is smaller, measuring 4.7 meters in height and 8.7 meters in length, and runs on fossil fuels. However, it can achieve a power output of up to 13,142 horsepower or 9,800 kW.
The Wartsila 31 is being converted into a generator with two versions, as reported by New Atlas on June 26. The 31SG-H2 version can run on natural gas or a mixture of natural gas and 25% hydrogen, or it can be upgraded to operate on 100% hydrogen. The 31H2 version is designed to run entirely on hydrogen but can also accept natural gas and mixed fuels. Both versions promise to become the largest hydrogen-powered generators in the world if sufficient hydrogen is available to operate them.
The hydrogen power plant using Wartsila engines aims to support power grids that utilize renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, which are intermittent and variable. By utilizing hydrogen, Wartsila can produce electricity that is 100% carbon-free.
“We must accept the reality that natural gas will still be needed for power systems for many years to come. Currently, our flexible fuel engines can use natural gas to provide flexibility and balance, helping renewable energy to grow. Then, the engines can transition to running on hydrogen when it becomes abundant, ensuring a journey towards net-zero emissions in the future,” said Anders Lindberg, president of Wartsila.
The concept of Wartsila’s power plant has been certified at stage 1 by TUV SUD, an organization dedicated to protecting people and the environment, and two more certifications are required before construction can commence. Wartsila’s hydrogen engines are expected to be ready by 2026.
