Wärtsilä laying the groundwork for LatAm hydrogen development

Energy solutions provider Wärtsilä is stepping up engagement with customers in Latin America and the Caribbean to help with the deployment of green hydrogen, according to Dave Hebert, the company’s director of business development.

“The first step that we are taking in the region is to help customers look at decarbonization. We have a specific group focused on these services. Their goal is to work with customers that have existing Wärtsilä engines and equipment,” the executive told BNamericas.

Hebert said clients who burn some form of diesel or heavy fuel oil are starting to institute large capacity renewable commitments designed to lower their carbon footprint and reduce their fuel cost.

“We are working with them to consider putting battery energy storage equipment in place, helping them balance the grid as a first step. Most of those customers, as our hydrogen offer advances and as they get additional renewable penetration, are going to start to look deeper at those types of solutions. So, it enables a staged entry into the market.”

Matt Fischer, a Wärtsilä business development manager, added that the company is developing an engine which could run on 100% hydrogen, highlighting that in the past, Wärtsilä has tested a 15-20% mix on the existing engine portfolio.

ENERGY STORAGE PROSPECTS

On the energy storage front, Hebert highlighted a project in Chile with electricity generator Colbún that is due to enter operation this quarter.

“We view Chile as quite a strong energy storage growth market for us in the region. Additionally, we expect to see additional deals moving forward, potentially in markets such as the Cayman Islands.”

Read Wärtsilä to provide energy storage systems to the Cayman Islands, continuing power system optimisation in the Caribbean

“Another growth market that we expect to see a fair amount of business coming from an energy storage perspective is Puerto Rico.”

Read New Puerto Rico renewable energy call seeks 1,000MW

Hebert also said that Wärtsilä has Brazil in its long-term plan as the country looks to implement more flexible solutions.