The technology group Wärtsilä, Finland’s Lappeenranta University of Technology and Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the study of the development of a business case for the use of alternative fuels with Wärtsilä generating sets. The MOU was signed Tuesday in Venice, Italy, during Wärtsilä’s Smart Energy Leaders Forum.
The aim of the business case is to achieve a technically and commercially viable solution that will allow NPPD to proceed with an industrial scale pilot project. Both parties have expressed the intention that this initiative will help accelerate the move towards a future where energy will be produced from 100 percent renewable carbon free sources. The specified alternative fuels include methanol, dimethyl ether (DME), ammonia, and hydrogen, or synthesized from hydrogen using CO2 and nitrogen.
“We are delighted to be working with Wärtsilä on this very important project. By converting hydrogen to methanol, it will be possible to use this as fuel in Wärtsilä engines. This has dual benefits, since it helps us commercially while at the same time promoting an environmentally sustainable means for producing electricity,” added NPPD CEO and President Pat Pope, who took part in the signing event.
