Finnish shipping and technology giant Wärtsilä has opened its new technology centre, the Sustainable Technology Hub (STH), in Vaasa, Finland.

The STH aims to contribute to the global decarbonisation of the marine and energy sectors through what Wärtsilä describes as the fostering of innovation and collaboration, and also the development of green tech using sustainable fuels and digital technologies. 

Read more: World’s navies need green transition, says white paper

“The speed at which the marine and energy industries are moving to meet decarbonisation goals is accelerating. The Sustainable Technology Hub, a world-leading centre for research, innovation, engineering and manufacturing, marks the start of a new era for Wärtsilä,” said Håkan Agnevall, President and CEO of Wärtsilä.

“By taking advantage of innovative technologies that already exist today, we can speed up the development of future-proof engines capable of running on sustainable fuels. We can now demonstrate that a carbon-neutral future is achievable.”

Wärtsilä already has engines operating on carbon-neutral fuels. This year the company released its Wärtsilä 32 Methanol engine to the market and is planning an ammonia concept sometime in 2023. A hydrogen concept is expected in 2025.

“As we all know, Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. Now Wärtsilä is making history by having made a significant investment in Finland, and particularly in the Vaasa region, where the company has been a driving force for a long time,” said Finland’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Mika Lintilä, in his opening speech at the inauguration ceremony.

Read more: Wärtsilä & Carnival join forces in fleet decarbonisation programme

(Source: Industry Europe, by Steven Gislam, June 7, 2022)