Finnish technology company Wärtsilä has unveiled an enhanced, environmentally friendly iteration of its highly efficient Wärtsilä 31DF engine. When powered by LNG, this updated model can significantly reduce methane emissions by as much as 56% and nitrogen oxide (NOx) by up to 86% at a 50% load point.
On an overall average, this cutting-edge technology can lower methane emissions by 41% more than the standard Wärtsilä 31DF engine, which already boasts the industry’s lowest emission levels.
This latest version, currently in use on one of the four engines installed on Wasaline’s Aurora Botnia ferry, has already contributed to a 10% reduction in methane emissions for the Finnish-Swedish ferry operator.
Wärtsilä conducted a successful pilot of the ultra-low emissions concept on the Aurora Botnia as part of the EU co-funded Green Ray and SeaTech projects. These remarkable outcomes were independently verified in a study conducted by VTT, the Technical Research Centre of Finland, in December 2022.
Moreover, Wärtsilä has now officially introduced the new ultra-low emissions version of the Wärtsilä 31DF engine to the commercial market.
Launched in 2015, the Wärtsilä 31DF engine platform is widely recognised for its exceptional fuel economy, high performance, and minimal GHG impact.
“Our work around reducing methane slip and GHG emissions is part of Wärtsilä’s effort to continuously improve efficiency and reduce emissions of our products, and this new innovation is one more very important step along the road to decarbonisation,” commented Stefan Nysjö, vice president of Power Supply, Wärtsilä Marine Power.
