Technology group, Wärtsilä has introduced a new ultra-low emissions version of its Wärtsilä 31DF engine.
Whilst 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%, the company claimed.
On a weighted average, this new engine can reduce methane emissions by 41% more than the standard Wärtsilä 31DF engine, which is claimed to have the lowest emission levels on the market.
The new version, which constitutes one of the four engines on board Wasaline’s ropax ‘Aurora Botnia’, has already helped the Finnish/Swedish ferry operator further reduce the vessel’s methane emissions by 10%.
As part of the EU co-funded Green Ray and SeaTech projects, Wärtsilä piloted the ultra-low emissions concept on board ‘Aurora Botnia’ claiming exceptional results verified through an independent study conducted in December, 2022 by VTT, the Technical Research Centre of Finland.
This latest collaboration forms part of a long-term partnership between Wärtsilä and Wasaline to reduce emissions on board ‘Aurora Botnia’.
“We are very committed to de-carbonisation, 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,” said Peter Ståhlberg, Wasaline’s Managing Director.
“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 de-carbonisation,” added Stefan Nysjö, Vice President of Power Supply, Wärtsilä Marine Power.
“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,” he said.
