Wärtsilä develops propulsion and power generation systems for the marine and energy sectors, operating 199 locations across 78 countries with over 17,900 engineers and technicians. The company powers approximately one-third of the world's large vessels and addresses decarbonization in sectors responsible for roughly one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Core technical work centers on engine development for alternative fuels: ammonia, hydrogen, and methanol combustion systems engineered for commercial-scale deployment. These engines represent a shift from conventional fuel infrastructure while maintaining compatibility with existing vessel and power plant architectures. The company operates a Sustainable Technology Hub in Finland focused on fuel system integration and grid-balancing solutions for renewable energy systems.
Engineering challenges span multiple domains: fuel handling and storage aboard vessels, engine control systems for fuels with different combustion properties, supply chain readiness for emerging fuel markets, and grid stability algorithms for high-penetration renewable energy. Work involves both hardware - engine blocks, fuel injection, exhaust treatment - and software for performance optimization across different operating conditions and fuel qualities. Solutions are validated in field deployments rather than laboratory environments alone, which constrains development velocity but ensures practical viability.