Launch of Wärtsilä 25 engine paves the way towards maritime decarbonisation

Wärtsilä Corporation, Press release 7 September 2022 at 13:00 UTC+2
  • The new Wärtsilä 25 medium-speed 4-stroke engine, this latest addition to Wärtsilä’s engine portfolio, is designed to accelerate and support the maritime sector’s efforts in achieving decarbonised operations. © Wärtsilä Corporation

The technology group Wärtsilä introduces its new Wärtsilä 25 medium-speed 4-stroke engine. Based on Wärtsilä’s highly successful modular technology platform, this latest addition to the company’s engine portfolio is designed to accelerate and support the maritime sector’s efforts in achieving decarbonised operations.

The Wärtsilä 25 engine’s modularity offers shipowners and operators maximised flexibility, while the engine’s efficiency and fuel economy deliver minimised emissions. The engine is already capable of operating on diesel, LNG, or on either gas or liquid carbon-neutral biofuels, and can easily be upgraded to operate with future carbon-free fuels as they become available. The flexibility of having different valve timing options is a key enabler for future fuels and emissions optimisation. 

The Wärtsilä 25 is intended to be the first Wärtsilä engine to run on Ammonia as a fuel – technology development is currently underway with a technology concept readiness slated for 2023, followed by planned product release soon thereafter.

“This engine marks the beginning of a new era of future-proof medium speed, small-bore engines,  and comes as an important step towards the maritime industry meeting its decarbonisation goals. The Wärtsilä 25 ticks all the boxes. It is a small but powerful engine, and it provides an effortless transition to future fuels, making it a future-proof investment already today. Most importantly, the Wärtsilä 25 brings all of these advantages whilst keeping the total cost of ownership within reason.” says Roger Holm, President Marine Power & Executive Vice President Wärtsilä Corporation.

When operating with natural gas the engine is IMO Tier III compliant, as it also is with diesel when integrated with a Wärtsilä NOx Reducer (NOR) emissions abatement system. Furthermore, it enables economically viable compliance with regulations such as the IMO’s CII and EEXI protocols that enter into force in 2023.

The Wärtsilä 25 is designed for long periods of maintenance-free operation and it supports dry-docking schedules with a time-between-overhauls (TBO) of up to 32,000 hours. As a result, both downtime and operating costs are significantly reduced. Data-driven dynamic maintenance planning and predictive maintenance services can extend the TBO even further.

The Wärtsilä 25 features a robust and highly efficient turbocharging system with a high pressure ratio. It is now available in 6L, 7L, 8L and 9L cylinder configurations, while the dual-fuel (DF) version has a power output ranging from 1.9 to 3.1 MW, and the diesel version from 2.0 to 3.4 MW. The common-rail high pressure fuel injection technology optimises combustion and the fuel-injection settings at all loads. This in turn promotes smoke-free operation.

Other features include a self-learning proportional, integral, derivative (PID) control to reduce calibration needs, and the gathering of critical engine data for predictive maintenance, reporting and analysis purposes via Wärtsilä’s Expert Insight service. The modules can be replaced ‘on the fly’, which eliminates the need for separate software downloads. Optional and easy-to-apply adjustments for arctic or tropical conditions and for reducing emissions to the level of a pure gas engine are also available.

Media contact for more information on this release:

Simone Greene
Communications Manager
Wärtsilä Marine Power
Tel: +39 342 072 5119
simone.greene@wartsila.com

Image caption: The new Wärtsilä 25 medium-speed 4-stroke engine, this latest addition to Wärtsilä’s engine portfolio, is designed to accelerate and support the maritime sector’s efforts in achieving decarbonised operations. © Wärtsilä Corporation

All Wärtsilä releases are available at https://www.wartsila.com/media/news-releases and at http://news.cision.com/wartsila-corporation where also the images can be downloaded.

Wärtsilä Marine Power in brief
Wärtsilä Marine Power leads the industry in its journey towards a decarbonised and sustainable future. Our broad portfolio of engines, propulsion systems, hybrid technology, and integrated powertrain systems delivers the efficiency, reliability, safety, and environmental performance needed to support our customers. Our offering includes performance-based agreements, lifecycle solutions, and an unrivalled global network of maritime expertise.
www.wartsila.com/marine  

Wärtsilä in brief:
Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. We emphasise innovation in sustainable technology and services to help our customers continuously improve their environmental and economic performance. Our dedicated and passionate team of 17,000 professionals in more than 200 locations in 68 countries shape the decarbonisation transformation of our industries across the globe. In 2021, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 4.8 billion. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.
www.wartsila.com