A Finnish tech firm has launched what it says is the “world’s first large-scale 100% hydrogen-ready engine power plant”.
The firm, called Wärtsilä, says the power plant will help move toward a net zero emissions energy system over the long term.
Wärtsilä’s hydrogen-ready engine power plant can be converted to run on 100% hydrogen, it says.
President Anders Lindberg said the world will “not meet global climate goals or fully decarbonise our power systems without flexible, zero-carbon power generation, which can quickly ramp up and down to support intermittent wind and solar.
“We must be realistic that natural gas will play a part in our power systems for years to come. Our fuel flexible engines can use natural gas today to provide flexibility and balancing, enabling renewable power to thrive,” he continued.
“They can then be converted to run on hydrogen when it becomes readily available: future-proofing the journey to net zero.
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“This is a major milestone for us as a company, and the energy transition more generally, as our hydrogen-ready engines will enable the 100% renewable power systems of tomorrow.”
According to Wärtsilä, the Wärtsilä 31 engine platform, which the hydrogen-ready power plant is based on, is the most efficient in the world.
It says it synchs with the grid within 30 seconds from starting, and ensures energy security through fuel flexibility.
The firm say the engine platform has completed more than 1 million running hours, with over 1,000 MW installed capacity globally. The engine is expected to be available for orders in 2025, and available for delivery from 2026.
Last year, it was revealed that the UK’s first geothermal power plant in Cornwall is set to deliver renewable baseload power to help meet local net zero targets.