Wärtsilä Fuel Conversions

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Fuel conversion gives your ship fuel flexibility

Considering IMO CO2 targets for 2030, it is quite clear that compliance can be achieved in the short term by optimising vessel operations and implementing efficiency-boosting technologies. But hitting IMO's tough 2030 and 2050 targets requires an effort on multiple fronts. Switching to an alternative future fuel and investing in fuel flexibility offers immediate benefits in terms of carbon, SOx and NOx reductions and compliance with regulations such as EEXI. The key considerations when investigating a fuel conversion of an existing ships are for example:


    FUEL AVAILABILITY

    OPERATIONAL IMPACT

    TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY

    FINANCIAL IMPACT

    The number of available fuels will increase

    Investing in fuel flexibility and the combustion engine will mitigate compliance and business risks introduced by future fuels. There is no one single future fuel – there will be a whole variety of fuels in use. To power the shipping in the future, Wärtsilä is investigating wide range of fuels and developing a wide range of engine and fuel gas supply systems to help ship owners navigate the route to reduced GHG emissions – whatever fuels are chosen. 

    Fuel conversions – complete systems regardless of fuel


    Wärtsilä has the technology needed to use most future fuels today and development is on-going for others. We are also investing heavily in developing fuel conversion and retrofit solutions. There are already a variety of retrofit solutions that can be implemented on both 4-stroke and 2-stroke engines.

    Find the best way to adopt alternative fuels for your vessel fleet

    Are you thinking about adopting future fuels for your vessels but unsure how to start? Perhaps you need to know whether to convert your existing vessel to run on alternative fuels, or to invest in a newbuild.

    For an existing vessel, the study outlines the modifications needed to accommodate engines capable of combusting your future fuel of choice as well as the related fuel storage and auxiliary systems. The study includes preliminary engineering drawings for the layout of the key equipment needed and key piping diagrams as well as a written report providing valuable high-level information on the conversion.

    What does a feasibility study include?

    • Engine conversion plan
    • Recommended solutions for fuel storage onboard
    • Estimated structural modifications for the vessel
    • High-level weight change calculations
    • Automation and control system modifications
    • Operational comparisons of using alternative fuel vs diesel
    • A preliminary high-level cost estimate and project schedule
    • Risk assessment.

    Interested in learning how sustainable fuels could work for your vessel or fleet? Complete this form and a Wärtsilä expert will get in touch with you to start the discussion.

    Request your feasibility study

    The only way an asset can return value beyond 2030 is if it can adapt to low-carbon and green fuels. Fuel flexibility is the key to enable this transition.

    Stefan Nysjö, Vice President, Power Supply at Wärtsilä

    Get more information from our references

    • Stena Germanica banner 1
      Stena Germanica

      The first ship in the world to run on methanol as a marine fuel

      Read more
    • Bit Viking
      Bit Viking

      In 2011, the first ever marine conversion of Wärtsilä 46 engines to Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines was carried out on the product tanker Bit Viking, owned by Tarbit Shipping of Sweden. It also represented the first Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel marine installation with mechanical propulsion.

      Read more

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