Wärtsilä has successfully demonstrated what it says is the world’s first large-scale engine running on 100% hydrogen, supplying power to Spain’s grid in Bermeo and advancing flexible low-carbon generation technology.
Wärtsilä has successfully operated a new 100% hydrogen engine supplying electricity to Spain’s national grid in Bermeo, northern Spain, marking what it describes as the world’s first demonstration of a large-scale engine running exclusively on pure hydrogen. The test represents a step beyond hydrogen-ready systems, showing that engine-based power generation can operate on 100% hydrogen under real grid conditions. The Wärtsilä 31H2 engine, part of the company’s Wärtsilä 31 platform, is currently undergoing performance validation at the site. “This is a trial for the future of renewable power,” said Rasmus Teir, Director of Technology Strategy & Decarbonisation at Wärtsilä. “Today, our Wärtsilä 31H2 hydrogen engine is operating on 100% hydrogen and supplying power to Spain’s national grid.” The company says the demonstration supports the case for flexible, dispatchable generation needed to balance growing shares of wind and solar power. Green hydrogen, which produces no carbon emissions at the point of use, can also provide long-duration energy storage and grid stability during periods of low renewable output. Wärtsilä adds that the hydrogen-fuelled engine platform could in future serve energy-intensive sectors such as data centres and industrial facilities, as well as off-grid applications.The Bermeo trial builds on earlier work with hydrogen-ready engine power plants and comes as Spain continues to expand its renewable energy system and reduce reliance on fossil fuel imports.
