Wärtsilä and SHI agree to collaborate on ammonia fuelled engines for future newbuilds
The technology group Wärtsilä and the Korean shipbuilding company Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) have signed a joint development programme (JDP) agreement aimed at developing ammonia-fuelled vessels with 4-stroke auxiliary engines available for future newbuild projects. Both parties recognise the importance of future carbon-free fuels in the marine industry’s drive towards decarbonisation. The agreement was signed in July 2021.
Wärtsilä has a leading role in developing engines for operation on future clean fuels, and has already successfully tested an engine running with a fuel mix containing 70 percent ammonia. The company anticipates having an engine concept capable of operating with 100 percent ammonia in 2023.
“There is a lot of interest from owners and operators in the potential for new clean-burning fuels, and ammonia is thought to be among the most promising of these candidates. Wärtsilä has already made significant progress in testing ammonia, and we are pleased to work together with them to bring this to reality,” says Youngkyu Ahn, Vice President, SHI.
“Decarbonisation has become the industry’s goal, and we at Wärtsilä are committed to doing everything possible to achieve this ambition. The adoption of a new generation of carbon-free fuels is central to a decarbonised future for shipping, so this JDP agreement represents an important step forward,” says Östen Lindell, Sales Director, Wärtsilä Marine Power.
According to SHI, the most likely initial newbuild targets for ships utilising ammonia fuel will be container vessels and very large crude carriers, operating with 2-stroke main engines and 4-stroke Wärtsilä auxiliary engines.
Corvus Energy receives ESS order from Wärtsilä for four Harvey Gulf OSVs
Corvus Energy is pleased to announce an order from Wärtsilä for four Energy Storage Systems (ESS) for the offshore support vessel fleet operated by Louisiana-based Harvey Gulf.
The orders follow the successful sea trial of Harvey Energy, the first-ever LNG-battery hybrid retrofit of a platform supply vessel (PSV) in the Americas. Harvey Gulf CEO, Shane Guidry has reported that clients and investors are increasingly demanding energy efficiency and emissions reduction. He said: “This fleet of vessels will be crucial in assisting our clients’ efforts to achieve net carbon zero, and we will continue to listen to them and invest in technology that will assist with their goals.”
Wärtsilä will integrate the battery-based ESSs, each with a capacity of 745 kWh, into their LNG-fueled hybrid-electric propulsion system. The ESS and Wärtsilä Energy Management System (EMS) will allow the vessels to operate in Dynamic Position mode on a single engine augmented by battery power, to operate more efficiently in transit and other operational modes, and to operate on battery-power only when stationary.
Wärtsilä again selected Corvus Energy’s industry-leading and award-winning Orca Energy ESS as the battery type for this application. Its robust design, high C-rate and proven performance makes it the ideal fit for the critical role it serves meeting demanding load profiles on the offshore platform supply vessels.
“We are very proud and pleased to be selected again by Harvey Gulf and Wärtsilä,” says Sveinung Odegard, Vice President Sales North America and President of Corvus Energy, USA. “Our technology, understanding of customer needs and commitments towards lifecycle support is again being acknowledged by receiving this order. We look forward to continuing serve the integrator and vessel owner in the years to come.”
The four LNG-battery hybrid vessels Harvey Liberty, Harvey Power, Harvey Freedom and Harvey America will be fitted with the 1100VDC – 745 kWh ESSs in 2021 and are expected to go into service in early 2022.