Wärtsilä has introduced a new ultra-low methane emissions feature, NextDF, for its 25DF dual-fuel engine.
The new technology reduces methane emissions to less than 2 per cent of fuel use at all load points, with levels as low as 1.1 per cent throughout a wide load range.
Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions are also lower than those of the ordinary Wärtsilä 25DF engine, which already emits at levels below the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Tier III.
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Across the maritime sector, using LNG and reducing methane emissions is one of the most effective approaches to reduce overall GHG emissions from engines over the next decade, complementing other CO2 reduction measures.
The IMO is addressing methane emissions in its planned GHG standards.
At the regional level, the EU is introducing a series of methane-related policies under FuelEU Maritime (2025 onwards) and the EU Emission Trading System (EU ETS) (2026 forward).
The effect of methane emissions will be introduced as a percentage of the mass of the fuel used by the engine. For EU regulation, four-stroke engines not certified with lower emission values will have to adhere to a default methane emission of 3.1 per cent of fuel use.
To provide flexibility in meeting the GHG intensity limits, the FuelEU Maritime regulation will not only impose costs if a vessel does not comply, but it will also allow vessels to capture value from overcompliance through banking or pooling compliance surplus between reporting periods.
Stefan Nysjö, Vice President of Power Supply, Wärtsilä Marine, said: “Enhancing dual fuel technology to further reduce methane emissions will have a major impact on the long-term viability of LNG as a marine fuel.”
