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A Finnish Company Took An Important Step Towards The Decarbonization Of Maritime Transport. The New Technology Allows For A Reduction Of Up To 75% In Methane Emissions In Biofuel Engines Used In Vessels. The Initiative Can Help The Maritime Sector Meet More Stringent Environmental Goals And Make International Navigation Significantly Cleaner And More Efficient.
A technological innovation developed by the Finnish company Wärtsilä promises to transform the efficiency and sustainability of marine engines. The new technology can reduce methane emissions from bivoil marine engines operating on liquefied natural gas (LNG) by up to 75%.
Intelligent And Efficient Conversion
The main change involves converting dual-fuel (DF) engines to the spark-ignited gas combustion mode, known as Spark Gas (SG).
This adaptation is feasible for existing Wärtsilä 50DF engines. The new configuration allows for a more complete combustion of gas, which significantly reduces the release of methane into the atmosphere.
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The conversion depends on the installation of an electronically controlled pre-combustion chamber valve.
This component is responsible for optimizing the combustion process, making it cleaner and more efficient.
The modification, according to Wärtsilä, can be applied to one or two engines per vessel, maintaining the main structure of the original system.
Results In Real Tests
The technology has already been tested and applied on vessels of Chevron Shipping Company. The company began converting six LNG carrier vessels, updating one engine per ship.
The results demonstrate not only the technical feasibility of the adaptation but also practical benefits, both in savings and environmental impact.
Real Reduction In Methane Emissions
Methane is an extremely potent greenhouse gas, with a global warming potential more than 80 times greater than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period.
The new solution reduces methane emissions by up to 1.1% of the fuel used, according to data from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), based on weighted cycles.
This advancement is significant given the urgent need to mitigate the environmental impacts of maritime navigation, one of the contributors to global emissions in the transportation sector.
Economy And Sustainability Combined
In addition to the environmental gain, the conversion to Spark Gas offers direct fuel savings. The adapted engines consume up to 4.6% less liquefied natural gas, contributing to reduced operational costs and more efficient use of fossil resources.
The solution is compatible with vessels that use diesel-electric propulsion — a common standard in LNG carrier ships.
This expands the potential for global adoption of the technology, without requiring structural replacements in existing propulsion systems.
The new approach from Wärtsilä represents an important step towards a more sustainable maritime industry. By offering technology that improves environmental performance without requiring radical changes to the current fleet, the company facilitates the energy transition in the naval sector.
As a result, the reduction in methane emissions ceases to be merely a distant goal and becomes an accessible and proven reality, already adopted by major operators in the sector.
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