[월간수소경제 성재경 기자] Finnish marine engine manufacturer Wärtsilä announced on 8 (local time) that it has managed to test fuel for the first time in the world through the co-combustion of hydrogen at a power plant in Michigan’s upper peninsula with an American partner.
A hydrogen co-firing demonstration conducted by WEC Energy Group, EPRI, Burns & McDonnell and Certarus in collaboration with WEC Warsilla concluded in late October at WEC’s AJ Mihm power plant in the United States.
This co-ignition demonstration was performed by installing an 18 MW 50SG engine developed by Warsila at WEC Energy Group’s 55 MW AJ Mihm power plant in Michigan. The mixed hydrogen-hydrogen skid was supplied by Certarus.
During the demonstration period, Varsila’s 50SG engine supplied power to the system. This marks the world’s first achievement as the largest internal combustion engine running continuously on hydrogen co-firing fuel.
The results were in line with all expectations and a full report with details is expected to be published in early 2023.
“We are delighted to take a leading role in exploring the potential of this technology with the goal of providing our customers with clean, reliable and affordable energy,” said Gale Klappa, President of the WEC Energy Group. “He has shown that internal combustion engines can operate on low-carbon fuels, while compensating for the intermittency of renewable energy,” he said.
He also added: “We got the desired results without any technical modifications to the Varsila 50SG engine.”
Varsila is actively testing 100% hydrogen fuel engines in its engine laboratory in Vaasa, Finland. The results so far are encouraging and we expect to have a power plant concept with engines powered by pure hydrogen by 2025.
