South Korea’s Hanwha Engine has successfully completed the first next-generation eco-friendly dual-fuel X-DF engine equipped with variable compression ratio (VCR) technology for LNG carriers, capable of using both LNG and diesel fuel and engineered with WinGD’s low-emissions engine technology.
The company says that this development is set to accelerate the decarbonisation transition in the shipbuilding industry. At a joint ceremony together with engine designer WinGD in Changwon, South Korea, the first VCR-applied X-DF engine for LNG carriers was celebrated and the first shipment of the 5X72DF-2.2 engine with VCR technology announced. The newest version of WinGD’s X-DF dual-fuel technology, has been adapted specifically for LNG carriers.
VCR represents a next-generation, green innovation that optimises fuel efficiency and reduces CO2 emissions by adjusting the engine compression ratio in real time according to operating conditions. Notably, it has the potential to reduce methane slip (methane emissions from incomplete combustion of LNG) by 30% to 50% compared to existing systems, drawing strong interest from the shipping industry, where cutting GHG emissions is a top priority.
Hanwha Engine says it has already secured orders for 70 units of the VCR-applied engine, worth US$ 500m, demonstrating strong demand for next-generation technology. This achievement further solidifies Hanwha Engine’s position in low emissions engine technology, following its commercialisation of dual-fuel engines in 2013.
CEO Moon Ghee Ryu said: “The world’s first production of VCR-applied engines for LNG carriers is not merely a technical achievement but a milestone accelerating the shipbuilding industry’s transition toward environmental sustainability. Moving forward, Hanwha Engine will continue to lead the industry by leveraging clean energy technologies to shape the future and make tangible contributions to marine environmental protection.”
Image: Joint ceremony with Hanwha Engine and WinGD marking completion of first VCR engine (source: Hanwha)
