Hydrogen or synthetic methane can be produced locally with wind and solar energy, using just water and air as the raw materials, and stored in underground gas taverns for use during times when little renewable energy is available and batteries are drained.
Burning renewable fuels in flexible, fast-start gas power plants dramatically reduces the required size of battery storage, improves power system efficiency and, lowers generating costs, and provides high security of supply even during rare and unusual weather patterns.
“The market for hydrogen-fuelled power plants will emerge along with regulations restricting the burning of fossil fuels. We are well positioned to serve the power industry in its transition to 100% renewable electricity generation,” said Marco Wiren, president of Wärtsilä’s Energy Business.
Wärtsilä engines already run on a variety of sustainable fuels, he pointed out, and “are offering a highly dynamic balancing power for these future [decarbonized] generating systems.”
The Finish technology group sees hydrogen co-firing as a way to future-proof its engines at a time when more stringent emission regulators accelerate the trend towards decarbonisation of the shipping and power generation sector. In addition to hydrogen, other potential renewable fuels are being studied for future applications.