🇫🇮 Wärtsilä is testing a hydrogen-powered engine

BERMEO, Spain (June 11, 2026) — Wärtsilä Energy has generated electricity for the Spanish national grid using a new engine that runs entirely on hydrogen. The test, conducted in Bermeo, Spain, marks the first time in the world that a large-scale engine has been operated using only hydrogen.

Wärtsilä has begun validating a new engine—the world’s first to run exclusively on hydrogen—as part of a test project in Bermeo, northern Spain, with the aim of supplying energy to the Spanish electricity grid.

The test is a significant demonstration that the engine can run on 100% sustainable fuels, such as hydrogen. It builds on experience gained from Wärtsilä’s previously launched world’s first large-scale 100% hydrogen-ready engine power plant. The test demonstrates that fully renewable energy systems are feasible.

Green hydrogen produces no carbon emissions, enabling clean energy production and supporting the goal of carbon-neutral power grids that rely on renewable energy. Excess renewable electricity can be stored in the form of hydrogen, allowing the hydrogen to be used for electricity generation when wind or solar power production is low. This helps stabilize power systems and improve energy security.

The Wärtsilä 31H2 engine, part of the Wärtsilä 31 engine platform—which ranks among the world’s most efficient four-stroke engines—demonstrates that the use of hydrogen can move from theory to practice in energy infrastructure. The Wärtsilä 31H2 engine is the world’s largest engine that runs on hydrogen alone.

“This test supports the future of renewable energy production. Wind and solar energy production is growing rapidly around the world, and one of the biggest challenges of the energy transition is ensuring reliable electricity generation in a sustainable manner during periods when renewable energy production is low or consumption spikes occur. Our Wärtsilä 31H2 hydrogen engine is already capable of running on hydrogen alone and generating electricity for the Spanish national grid. This demonstrates that large-scale hydrogen engines can support future renewable energy systems by providing flexible, sustainable energy exactly when it is needed,” says Rasmus Teir, head of Technology Strategy and Carbon Neutrality at Wärtsilä.

“We have demonstrated that the technology is ready. The next step is to focus on building an environment that supports its scaling up. This involves, in particular, decisive regulation, a robust investment environment, and the infrastructure needed to accelerate the growth of renewable energy and sustainable fuels, such as hydrogen. The technology is here—now is the time to scale it up.”

The power plant, based on the Wärtsilä 31 engine, is designed to support rapidly growing, energy-intensive sectors—including data centers, manufacturing facilities, and industry—with grid-independent, flexible, and sustainable energy production.

For more information, visit the Wärtsilä website.

Originally published on June 11, 2026 by Both2nia.