Wärtsilä has signed a strategic partnership agreement for Decarbonisation Modelling with Brazilian energy company Raízen, focusing on both newbuilding and existing operation upgrade plans, with the aim of building and implementing a fleet-wide decarbonisation plan with a particular interest in the future introduction of ethanol as a marine fuel.
Wärtsilä, under its fleet decarbonisation programme, says it has a track record in bringing new sustainable solutions to the market. In particular, by increasing engine efficiency and developing the capability to operate with alternative clean fuels, the company has established a position in supporting the industry’s greenhouse gas (GHG) elimination ambitions.
The agreement is designed to boost Raízen’s efforts to deliver end-to-end low-carbon solutions to its worldwide customers and is in line with the company’s goal to lead the global energy transition by offering scalable and sustainable solutions to the market. Wärtsilä will support Raízen by performing technology testing with ethanol as a fuel in one of its Sustainable Fuels laboratory engines. In addition, the agreement includes joint efforts in deploying the identified Decarbonisation Solutions to involved ship designers and shipowners, as well as providing advice regarding regulations and compliance requirements for the use of cellulosic ethanol as fuel.
Paulo Neves, Raízen VP Trading said: “Ethanol is a promising marine fuel that is readily available now. By working with Wärtsilä, we hope to support the marine sector global decarbonisation efforts, with ethanol being a viable contributor towards a portfolio of low-carbon solutions for this sector.”
Stefan Nysjö, VP Power Supply Wärtsilä Marine Power added: “At Wärtsilä, we are investing heavily in the development of technologies, engines and solutions aimed for low and zero carbon marine fuels. This agreement with Raízen, a company committed to supporting the sector’s decarbonisation, is yet another example of how we seek ways to enable the journey towards a decarbonised future.”
Initial studies by Raízen have determined that by replacing fossil fuels with ethanol on a standard route from Brazil to Europe, CO2 emissions can be reduced by up to 80%. Ethanol is considered a potentially viable solution to help decarbonise the sector, since it provides greater flexibility and optionality as the industry moves toward a combination of lower-emission fuel options.
