Wärtsilä, in partnership with Chevron Shipping Company, plans to convert one engine on six of Chevron Transport Corporation’s LNG Carriers from dual-fuel (DF) to spark gas (SG) operation.
The conversions are intended to reduce GHG emissions by lowering methane slip in support of Chevron Shipping’s broader efforts to reduce the carbon intensity of its operations. This marine industry first was made possible after two years of collaboration between the companies.
LNG, when burned as a fuel, results in small amounts of methane that may not fully combust leading to methane escaping into the atmosphere, referred to as methane slip. Methane exists in the atmosphere for a shorter time than CO₂ but has been shown to trap around 25–30 times more heat over a 100-year period. Addressing methane emissions is a key part of lowering carbon intensity. Wärtsilä’s 50DF to SG conversion project is designed to modify the engines in service to operate as SG, using spark ignition versus diesel pilot fuel to initiate combustion. This enables a more optimised combustion process, thereby reducing the methane slip and improving efficiency.
Barbara Pickering, President Chevron Shipping said: “Chevron Shipping aims to reduce methane emissions intensity of our LNG fleet in support of a lower carbon future. We are pleased to collaborate with Wärtsilä in this industry first. This demonstrates steps we are taking to reduce the carbon intensity of marine transportation.”
Roger Holm, President Wärtsilä Marine and EVP Wärtsilä Corporation added: “This innovative project represents a notable step forward on the road to advancing lower carbon fleets. Wärtsilä has an extensive track-record in reducing methane slip from LNG-fuelled engines, not only as newbuild solutions, but also through retrofitting existing installations.”
This new technology complements Wärtsilä’s portfolio of solutions aimed at reducing methane emissions from vessels. Claiming nearly three decades of experience in LNG technology, Wärtsilä believes it is providing market leading performance both with the dual fuel flexibility provided by the DF engine, as well as with the single fuel SG engine.
Image: Wärtsilä and Chevron Shipping plan to convert one engine on six LNG Carriers from DF to SG operation (credit: Chevron Shipping)
