Wärtsilä and MAN Diesel & Turbo to Jointly Research Multi-Fuel, Bunker Saving Engine Technology

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Tuesday September 23, 2014

Wärtsilä Corp. (Wärtsilä) today announced it is seeking to again work with MAN Diesel & Turbo on a new bunker saving and emissions reducing research and development initiative, dubbed HERCULES-2, and is awaiting EU approval under the 2020 EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.

The stated aims of the project are fourfold, namely to develop a fuel-flexible engine, a near zero emissions engine, and an adaptive powerplant for lifetime performance, as well as to investigate new materials for engine applications.

“The new project aims to achieve significant reductions in fuel consumption and exhaust emissions,” said Wärtsilä.

“The project includes several full-scale prototypes and shipboard demonstrators that will speed the development of commercially available products,” it added.

The co-operation between Wärtsilä and MAN Diesel & Turbo will be part of a 32-strong consortium involving a number of European companies, universities and research institutions with proposed EU funding to be heavily weighted towards the companies involved.

The original HERCULES programme was conceived in 2002 by Wärtsilä and MAN Diesel & Turbo to develop new technologies to increase marine engine efficiency with three projects having already run their course between 2004 and 2014.

The progress of the three previous HERCULES projects was discussed in detail at the end of 2013 as part of the Fathom Spotlight series.