Wärtsilä has introduced a new ultra-low emission version of its Wärtsilä 31DF engine, regarded as highly efficient even before the upgrade.
When operating on LNG, this new version can further reduce methane emissions on a 50% load point by up to 56% and NOx by up to 86%. On a weighted average, this new technology can reduce methane emissions by 41% more than the standard Wärtsilä 31DF engine, which already claims the lowest emission levels on the market.
The new version, which is being applied to one of the four engines on board Wasaline’s Aurora Botnia ferry, has already helped the Finnish-Swedish ferry operator further reduce the Aurora Botnia’s methane emissions by 10%. As part of the EU co-funded Green Ray and SeaTech projects, Wärtsilä piloted the ultra-low emissions concept onboard the Aurora Botnia with exceptional results verified through an independent study conducted in December 2022 by VTT, the Technical Research Centre of Finland. Encouraged by the positive results, Wärtsilä has now launched the new ultra-low emissions version of the Wärtsilä 31DF engine to the commercial market.
This latest collaboration forms part of a long-term partnership between Wärtsilä and Wasaline to reduce emissions onboard the Aurora Botnia, considered the most environmentally friendly ro-pax ferry today.
Wasaline MD Peter Ståhlberg said: “We are very committed to decarbonisation, and we have worked closely with Wärtsilä to make sustainable shipping a reality. It is a goal-oriented partnership that benefits both companies, as well as the industry as a whole. We have been pleased to allow the Aurora Botnia to be utilised as a floating laboratory, and we are excited to see the success of this latest Wärtsilä technology breakthrough.”
Launched in 2015, the Wärtsilä 31DF engine platform is noted for its fuel economy, performance and minimal GHG impact. The engine, as a standard version, already meets current regulatory requirements. The new version will enable operators to go even further in reducing methane emissions, helping to futureproof their vessels in the longer term against potentially tightening global requirements. The company believes that the improved dual fuel technology to enable methane emissions reduction will have a major impact on the long-term viability of LNG as a marine fuel.
Stefan Nysjö, VP Power Supply, Wärtsilä Marine Power said: “Our work around reducing methane slip and GHG emissions is part of Wärtsilä’s effort to continuously improve efficiency and reduce emissions of our products, and this new innovation is one more very important step along the road to decarbonisation. The building of an LNG fuel infrastructure has been an important factor in shipping’s transition towards cleaner operations, and Wärtsilä continues to create solutions that support this journey. Our focus has always been to improve and optimise existing solutions, and to develop exciting new ones. With this latest introduction, we are clearly delivering on this commitment.”
Although methane slip from engines is a relatively small amount, from a percentage standpoint, it is significantly more potent as a GHG than CO2 – up to 28 times greater. Across the shipping industry, cutting methane emissions is considered one of the most effective ways to decrease overall GHG emissions from engines over the next 10 years, complementing other decarbonisation efforts.
