An engine-based power plant that can run entirely on hydrogen is supplying electricity to Spain’s national grid.
Finnish technology firm Wärtsilä’s demonstration of its 31H2 hydrogen power plant, which took place at its laboratory in Bermeo, northern Spain, showed that the plant is is capable of supplying electricity to the grid.
For the company, this marks a significant step forward – from the hydrogen-ready engine power plant it first unveiled in 2024 to what it describes as a world-first demonstration of a hydrogen engine that runs on 100% hydrogen.
With the International Energy Agency forecasting that global renewable energy generation is set to grow by almost 4,600GW by 2030, there is a rising need for flexible, rapid-response solutions that can balance the grid during periods of low wind and solar output.
The 31H2 plant uses stored green hydrogen, produced from excess renewable electricity, to provide power when wind or solar generation drops, and produces no carbon dioxide at the point of use. It is based on Wärtsilä’s 31 engine platform, which the company describes as a multi-fuel four-stroke engine platform.
Rasmus Teir, director of technology strategy and decarbonisation at Wärtsilä, said: “This is a trial for the future of renewable power. As countries rapidly scale wind and solar energy, one of the biggest challenges facing the energy transition is how to maintain reliable electricity supplies sustainably during periods of low renewable generation or spikes in demand.
“Today, our Wärtsilä 31H2 hydrogen engine is operating on 100% hydrogen and supplying power to Spain’s national grid, demonstrating that large-scale hydrogen engines can provide the flexible, dispatchable sustainable power needed to support future renewable energy systems.”
As well being used to supply energy to the grid, Wärtsilä foresees its use in other energy-intensive applications that require flexible, sustainable power generation or may be located in off-grid environments, such as new data centres.
“We have proven the technology is ready,” said Teir. “Now, the focus must be on creating the right environment to scale it, underpinned by decisive regulation, investment clarity, and the infrastructure needed to accelerate the growth of renewable energy and sustainable fuels like hydrogen. The technology is here – now it’s time to scale it.”