- Wärtsilä’s NextDF feature for its 25DF dual-fuel engine drastically reduces methane emissions, achieving levels as low as 1.1% of fuel use.
- The NextDF-equipped 25DF engine also emits less nitrogen oxide (NOx) than the standard model, surpassing IMO Tier III requirements.
- The EU’s upcoming regulations for methane emissions offer financial benefits for ships that exceed compliance standards.
- The modular design of Wärtsilä’s engines allows for easy retrofitting of NextDF, ensuring flexibility and alignment with evolving sustainability standards.
Technology group Wärtsilä has introduced its innovative NextDF feature for the Wärtsilä 25DF dual-fuel engine, aiming to significantly reduce methane emissions when operating on liquefied natural gas (LNG). The NextDF feature reduces methane slip to less than two percent of fuel consumption across all load points, achieving as low as 1.1 percent in certain ranges. In addition, the NextDF-equipped engine emits lower nitrogen oxide (NOx) than the standard Wärtsilä 25DF, which already adheres to the stringent IMO Tier III emission standards, reports Wärtsilä.
LNG’s Role as a Transitional Marine Fuel
LNG has become an important bridge fuel for the shipping industry, aiding in the shift from conventional diesel to future carbon-neutral or carbon-free alternatives. However, because LNG is primarily methane, unburned traces of this potent greenhouse gas can escape during combustion. Wärtsilä’s NextDF technology mitigates this concern, helping to reduce overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while maintaining the benefits of LNG as a transitional energy source.
Regulatory Push for Methane Emission Reductions
As international regulations tighten around methane emissions, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is preparing to integrate methane’s impact into its broader GHG regulatory framework. In Europe, the EU is rolling out specific methane-related rules through the FuelEU Maritime program (beginning in 2025) and the EU Emission Trading System (ETS) (2026). These new policies will impose a default methane emission rate of 3.1 percent of fuel use for non-certified engines, while offering financial incentives for vessels that exceed compliance standards, enabling operators to bank or pool their surplus compliance credits.
Enhanced Dual-Fuel Technology for Decarbonization
Wärtsilä’s 25 engine platform, launched in 2022, is designed to support modular upgrades and fuel flexibility, enabling operators to lower emissions and increase fuel efficiency. With the integration of NextDF technology, engine efficiency improves by an additional 0.5 percentage points. Stefan Nysjö, Vice President of Power Supply at Wärtsilä Marine, emphasizes that advancing dual-fuel technology to reduce methane slip strengthens LNG’s viability as a sustainable marine fuel and is critical to Wärtsilä’s commitment to decarbonization.
Expansion of NextDF Technology and Financial Benefits
Following the introduction of NextDF technology for the Wärtsilä 31DF engine in 2023, Wärtsilä has now extended this feature to the 25DF engine, with retrofitting options available for existing models. By meeting and exceeding EU methane emission standards, vessels equipped with NextDF technology can generate financial returns from over-compliance, offering a sustainable and future-proofed solution to emissions management.
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Source: Wärtsilä
