Portugal: Wärtsilä, Capwatt to test green hydrogen and natural gas blend fuel

Finnish power source equipment manufacturer for the marine and energy markets Wärtsilä will collaborate with Portuguese energy solutions provider and independent power producer Capwatt, wholly owned by Sonae Capital, in the testing of a green hydrogen and natural gas blend fuel for a Capwatt power plant located in Maia. The project will start in the first quarter of 2023 and it aims at testing blends of up to 10 vol.% green hydrogen. The combined heat and power plant which provides energy for Sonae Campus and the national grid currently operates with a Wärtsilä 34SG engine running on natural gas. The engine is already capable of operating on gas with up to 3% hydrogen. In order to reach the targeted level of 10% blending, modifications will be made to the engine as well as its control system and the plant automation system. Capwatt intends to produce green hydrogen using an electrolyser, powered by renewable energy.