GAS ENGINES ARE THE PERFECT SOLUTION FOR ENERGY TRANSITION BY SUJEN BALAKISSON, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER FOR WARTSILA AFRICA

As the world continues its journey towards a sustainable future, the debate over the best energy sources has been ongoing. Amidst this conversation, Wärtsilä is proud to advocate for the pivotal role that gas engines play in the energy transition. With a commitment to innovation and environmental responsibility, Wärtsilä contends that gas engines offer a multifaceted solution to the challenges of today and tomorrow.

Efficiency Redefined

At the core of the argument for gas engines lies their outstanding efficiency. Modern gas engines, with advancements in technology and engineering, boast remarkable efficiency rates; meaning more energy is harnessed from each unit of fuel consumed, significantly reducing waste and emissions

One of the standout features of gas engines is their ability to adjust to changing load conditions, it is designed to operate efficiently across a broad range of loads. Gas engines are widely used in large scale power plants, each with its own set of requirements. At lower loads the engine can adjust its fuel intake and combustion process to match the energy demand. This prevents wasteful fuel consumption and ensures that the engine is running at its most efficient level. At a time where optimising resources is paramount, by adjusting their output to match demand, gas engines minimise wasted energy, leading to greater overall efficiency.

Flexible and Reliable

Furthermore, gas engines offer a level of flexibility and reliability that is crucial for the evolving landscape of energy production. Unlike some renewable sources that rely on specific weather conditions or geographical locations, gas engines can be deployed almost anywhere. This versatility makes them ideal for supporting renewable energy sources like wind and solar, providing a stable backup as gas engines act as the perfect complement to intermittent renewables with their quick response to changing load conditions, ensuring a consistent and reliable energy supply.

Environmentally Conscious

Contrary to misconceptions, gas engines are not adversaries to environmental goals; rather, they are powerful allies. Gas engines play a significant role in the ongoing global efforts towards decarbonisation, especially in sectors where immediate electrification or renewable energy adoption might be challenging. Advancements in our gas engine technology together with its emission reductions are helping to mitigate environmental impact and facilitate the transition to cleaner energy sources. Gas engines can operate efficiently at varying loads, ensuring optimal energy use. This efficiency translates into lower fuel consumption and, consequently, reduced CO2 emissions per unit of electricity generated, and environmental impact.

Cost-Effective Solutions

Finally, the economic benefits of gas engines cannot be overstated. Their efficient operation translates directly into reduced fuel consumption, as well as output stability and predictability regardless of load.

In addition, Wärtsilä’s gas engines’ resilience adds to their cost-saving, offer longer intervals and a significant number of cycles between maintenance interventions – the first major overhaul is only after 20,000 running hours with one minor overhaul every 4,000 running hours. Number of cycles of operation do not have a significant impact on our engines. Furthermore, Wärtsilä boasts the largest, unparalleled network of service offices in the world, being easily dispatchable whilst servicing the largest internal combustion engine (ICE) install base globally.

In an era where fiscal responsibility is a priority, gas engines present a compelling case as a cost-effective solution for meeting energy needs.

Wärtsilä firmly believes that gas engines represent the perfect solution for the energy transition. With their outstanding efficiency, flexibility, environmental conscientiousness, cost-effectiveness and resiliency, gas engines offer a holistic approach to sustainable energy production. Through advanced technologies and intelligent design, gas engines continue to play a vital role in our modern world, providing the power needed to drive progress while minimising environmental impact whilst powering this transition.

For more information on Wärtsilä and its advocacy for gas engines in the energy transition, please visit https://www.wartsila.com/.

Notes to Editors:

Wärtsilä Energy in brief
Wärtsilä Energy is at the forefront of the transition towards a 100% renewable energy future. We help our customers and the power sector to accelerate their decarbonisation journeys through our market-leading technologies and power system expertise. Our solutions include flexible engine power plants, energy storage and optimisation technology, and services for the whole lifecycle of our installations. Our engines are future-proof and can run on sustainable fuels. Our track record comprises 79 GW of power plant capacity, of which 18 GW are under service agreements, and over 125 energy storage systems, in 180 countries around the world.
www.wartsila.com/energy