- Flex-CPT Project Aims for 100% Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Innovative Multi-Fuel Solutions for Maritime and Off-Road Machinery Development
- University of Vaasa Leads Consortium for Flexible Clean Propulsion Technologies
The project consortium led by the University of Vaasa designs new, clean, and flexible solutions for maritime transport and off-road machinery. The main intention of the project is to reduce the number of single types of fuel and to improve the use of zero- and low-carbon fuels in order to finally reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 100%, reports University of Vaasa.
Project Objectives
The areas of flexibility which Flex-CPT focuses are as follows:
- Flexible Hardware Design: Adaptable components of the engine for multiple fuel usage.
- Smart Combustion Control: Control systems in combustion to make maximum use of fuels available.
- Efficient Thermal Management: Improvements in thermal processes to enhance overall efficiency.
- Adaptive Emission and Hybrid Energy Management: System designs that can adapt either to the availability of fuels or regulations about emissions.
A budget of 18 million euros and a broad consortium of partners make this project a realistic path toward carbon neutrality for the Finnish powertrain industry. For decades ahead, it will determine the course of future development in the marine and off-road sectors.
Embracing Multi-Fuel Solutions
According to Prof Maciej Mikulski from the University of Vaasa, this energy mix makes all kinds of zero-carbon fuel options besides better-known low-carbon fuels like methane, methanol, and bio- and renewable diesels necessary for the project.
The multi-fuel capability raises enormous technological challenges for the development of powertrains.
Consortium Partners
The research organizations and companies participating in the Flex-CPT consortium include:
- University of Vaasa
- Tampere University
- Aalto University
- Åbo Akademi University
- Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
- University of Turku
- University of Oulu
- Wärtsilä Finland Oy
- AGCO Power Oy
- Meyer Turku Oy
- Proventia Oy
- Bosch Rexroth Oy
- Hycamite TCD Technologies Oy
- Lumikko Oy
- Meriaura Oy
The project also highly involves international collaboration with 12 partners from 12 countries and falls in line with the Zero Emission Marine program being led by Wärtsilä, as well as with the NEcOLEAP programme, being headed by Meyer Turku.
Industry Collaboration
Wärtsilä has been committed to the Zero Emission Marine vision. According to Jonas Åkerman, a Director of Research & Technology Development at Wärtsilä, “We will leverage the expertise within the consortium to enable our industry to achieve its targeted emission reductions by 2030 and 2050 toward a more sustainable future for the maritime business”.
Knowledge Sharing and Expertise Development
From the point of view of Kari Aaltonen, the product development director at AGCO Power, it is such an important project to develop carbon-free and low-carbon machines in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions worldwide in maritime, land transport, and agriculture. “A lot of new solutions will be brought into the market from this collaboration, but much more importantly, knowledge and expertise will be developed among all the partners.”.
The Flex-CPT project serves as an extension and expansion of the Clean Propulsion Technologies program conducted previously; it was that program that placed Finland on the world’s map in terms of powertrain solutions for marine transportation and off-road machinery.
Commitment to Sustainable Solutions
According to Minna Martikainen, Rector, University of Vaasa: “This is the biggest ever in the university, in any case. It indicates the significant commitment of the university towards sustainable solutions in the areas of energy, business, and society.”
Funding and Support
Flex-CPT is mainly financed by Business Finland, and participating companies as well as research organizations further support the project. This funding thus makes the country a powerhouse in the development of combustion engines that run free of emissions and with
high flexibility. According to Kari Kuokkanen, and Tero Ijäs of Business Finland, such cooperation lays a solid foundation for commercial breakthroughs in global markets.
Creative Fueling Integration
The goal of the Flex-CPT consortium is to show how powertrains can be demonstrated at an even higher level than a 100% reduction in tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions. It will focus its main thrust on optimizing individual fuel streams for availability, pricing, combustion efficiency, and emissions.
Professor Mikulski describes how fuel-agnostic combustion and after-treatment systems will complement electrification to accommodate five fuel categories across two versatile engine platforms. The power platform will be able to address diverse power demands for off-road and marine transport with minimal changes in hardware. Special fuel-quality adaptive control functions, along with self-learning capabilities, will help with the challenges of multi-fuel calibration.
Innovations Research
The Flex-CPT research plan covers 33 innovations, such as reforming-based on-demand reactivity, adaptive after-treatment deposit formation control, and advanced thermal management for hybrid systems. It maximizes the synergy between fuel storage technology and electrification.
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Source: University of Vaasa
