Wartsila and Finland-based Gasum have signed a joint cooperation agreement aimed at developing the use, distribution and service solutions for natural gas in marine and onshore applications.
Under the agreement, Wartsila will provide the gas value chain technology know-how, while Gasum will distribute and sell natural gas and biogas. The development work regarding liquefied natural gas (LNG) for marine applications will also utilize the expertise of Gasum subsidiary Skangas, a major LNG player in the Nordic market.
The companies note that natural gas fuel is increasingly being used for marine engines and in power plant generators, as exhaust emissions from gas-fueled engines are notably lower than from diesel and coal-fired prime movers.
According to Wartsila, the project will be divided into work streams, covering areas such as smart power generation, LNG and liquefied biogas (LBG), gas as a marine fuel, operations and maintenance, and biogas. The project will focus on increasing sales through business development cooperation and building an LNG infrastructure in places where gas is currently not available – and also will work to develop LBG markets. Further, the companies will cooperate to develop cost-effective and efficient operation and maintenance activities.
“Wartsila has taken a leading position in both the energy and shipping markets as a developer of advanced technology solutions that enable the practical and efficient use of natural gas fuel. This agreement with Gasum will help speed the transition to gas fuel and advance environmental sustainability,” says Wartsila’s president and CEO, Jaakko Eskola.
