Finnish marine technology firm Wärtsilä has set a goal of becoming carbon neutral in its own operations and of providing products that will be ready for zero carbon fuels by 2030.
Wärtsilä’s “Set for 30” carbon neutrality commitment covers direct greenhouse gas emissions from the company’s own operations, including the research and development and factory engine testing areas, as well as purchased energy.
The second key climate target relates to Wärtsilä’s product portfolio and its readiness for zero carbon fuels by 2030. In July this year, the company launched a major test programme towards carbon-free solutions with hydrogen and ammonia fuels. According to Wärtsilä, its current portfolio already enables its customers to switch to carbon neutral fuels, such as biofuels or synthetic methane. The transition to carbon neutral or carbon free fuels will happen gradually once these become available, the company said.
This is a natural step in our aim to shape the decarbonisation of marine and energy
Håkan Agnevall, president and CEO of Wärtsilä, commented: “These new ambitious Set for 30 climate targets demonstrate our commitment to our purpose of enabling sustainable societies. Our aim is to support our customers on their decarbonisation journey, thereby shaping a sustainable future for the marine and energy sectors. Our products, solutions and services will meet stringent environmental requirements, and the fuel flexibility of our engines powering these sectors is key for enabling the transformation. In parallel, we also need to do our part as an organisation and minimise our own environmental footprint.”
“Wärtsilä has invested a lot in R&D and has made a long-term effort in product development focusing on fuel flexibility, energy efficiency, and emissions reduction. This is a natural step in our aim to shape the decarbonisation of marine and energy,” added Agnevall.
Wärtsilä’s decarbonisation roadmap is based on a company-initiated analysis to identify the key measures for reaching the carbon neutrality target. The toolbox includes measures such as energy savings, green electricity purchases, switching fuels, the use of more efficient technologies, and the use of offsets for emissions hard to abate. A detailed implementation plan and timeline is currently being worked on.
