Wärtsilä and Gasum Partner to Develop Marine LNG Markets

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Tuesday August 30, 2016

Wärtsilä Corporation (Wärtsilä) Monday announced that it has signed a cooperation agreement with Gasum Oy (Gasum) intended to develop the use, distribution, and service solutions for natural gas in marine and onshore applications.

Jaakko Eskola, Wärtsilä President and CEO, says the cooperation agreement will help speed the transition to gas fuel and advance environmental sustainability.

"Natural gas fuel is increasingly being used for marine engines and in power plant generators, primarily for reasons of environmental compliance," said Wärtsilä.

"Exhaust emissions from gas fuelled engines are notably lower than from diesel and coal-fired prime movers."

The project that will be carried out under the agreement is said to be divided into separate work streams, which include gas as a marine fuel, LNG and liquefied biogas (LBG), Smart Power Generation, operations and maintenance, and biogas.

"By improving the availability of LNG, the present and future needs of both the shipping sector and industrial clients currently outside the natural gas grids will be served," said Wärtsilä, noting that improved LNG utilisation will also enable the increased use of LBG without the need for additional investment, as the two can be used across the same infrastructure.

The project will specifically focus on developing LNG infrastructure where gas is currently not available, as well as using business development cooperation to increase sales.

In July, Ship & Bunker reported that Wärtsilä and 13 other LNG industry players had come together to form a cross-industry coalition known SEA\LNG, intended accelerate the adoption of LNG as marine fuel.