By
Richard Humphreys |
Wärtsilä has joined H4PERION (Hydrogen FOR Performance Enhancement and Reliable Ice OperatioN), an EU-funded ‘Horizon Europe’ project led by the University of Vaasa in Finland, to help accelerate the transition to zero-carbon long-distance shipping.
The four-year project will develop and demonstrate solutions to improve engine efficiency and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Wärtsilä will contribute by developing a combustion concept that enables internal combustion engines to operate safely and efficiently on a blend of hydrogen and biomethane, with the aim of achieving up to 100 per cent hydrogen operation in open-sea conditions.
“Several low‑carbon fuels are being explored within the industry, and hydrogen is considered one potential zero‑carbon option,” said Henri Karimäki, the director of research and development at the University of Vaasa. “By focusing on its practical application and safety in maritime contexts, the H4PERION project aims to advance innovation and set new standards for the industry. Collaboration across Europe will be key in achieving these outcomes.”
Wärtsilä will also develop a catalyst system to reduce methane slip and other emissions, supporting a lower overall lifecycle carbon footprint.
The technology group will demonstrate selected technologies onboard Wasaline’s ferry, Aurora Botnia, with a focus on reducing the vessel’s emissions. The project also includes training programmes for crew and port workers and activities to support the safe use of sustainable fuels.
The H4PERION project will run until May 2030 and during this time, sea trials will be carried out onboard Aurora Botnia, which operates between Finland and Sweden. At the same time, an identical full-scale engine will be tested in a laboratory environment to mirror real sailing conditions and further optimise performance. Data from both demonstrations will feed into a digital twin model to support long-term learning and future design work.
“Achieving net-zero emissions in shipping is a journey we must take together,” said Anders Öster, general manager of research coordination and funding at Wärtsilä Marine. “It is only through close cross-industry collaboration and shared determination that we will further accelerate progress towards zero-carbon solutions for maritime.”
H4PERION brings together 16 partners from seven European countries, with those partners, which include Meyer Werft and Wasaline, covering the maritime value chain from ship design and engine development to vessel operation, training, safety and academic research.
Another partner involved in the project is Deltamarin, which provides ship design, offshore engineering and construction support services for the marine industry. Deltamarin’s contribution comes in two areas: supporting the integration design of the onboard installation and evaluating the transferability of the developed technologies by replicating them for different ship types.
Mia Elg, research and development manager at Deltamarin, said: “H4PERION represents for us both an opportunity to be at the front row of developing next-generation engine concepts and it is also a continuation of our systematic development of digital modelling, enabling the introduction of new solutions to ships.”