The Netherlands/China – Wärtsilä has received its first order for newbuild methanol-fueled engines.
Five Wärtsilä 32 engines are being used to power an Offshore Wind Installation Vessel (WIV) that will be used to install wind turbines for Dutch contractor Van Oord at the Yantai CIMC Raffles shipyard in China.
Methanol fuel supply system was ordered in December 2021, and the order will be recorded in the order book by Q1 2022. The equipment will be delivered in the early years of 2023.
Aiding maritime industry’s decarbonization
Wärtsilä’s leadership in methanol engines and the use of the fuel in support of the maritime industry’s decarbonization goals will be strengthened by this new order. Over the course of the past five years, Wärtsilä has converted the first of four engines on Stena Germanica to run on methanol.
One of the most promising future fuels is ‘green methanol,’ which is made from renewable resources. Hydrogen from renewable electricity sources and carbon capture are used in its production. Methanol’s advantages include its low cost of production, wide availability, and ease of storage. Because of this, there is already a well-established global supply chain.
Long-term strategic cooperation
By collaborating with key stakeholders to meet future development needs, Wärtsilä recently signed an agreement with Chinese shipyard Yantai CIMC Raffles for a long-term strategic cooperation. The goal of this collaboration is to create innovative, long-term solutions for the construction of new ships. Future carbon-free fuels and other integrated technology solutions will be part of this.
Wärtsilä plans to commercialize engine technologies that allow the use of all alternative fuels within the next few years. As a result of the modularity of today’s engines, owners can already begin planning for the use of new fuels as they become available. A set of cutting-edge thrusters from Wärtsilä will also be provided to the Van Oord vessel for effective station keeping. As the company’s seventh order for WTIV thrusters in 2021, this order emphasizes the company’s leading position in the offshore wind sector.
